“The Red Cross, faced with a shortage of blood donations, has found an unusual way to get potential donors to their doorstep,” Fox News reports. “Across the country, some chapters of the Red Cross have begun offering incentives including raffles for free iPods, vacations, free gas cards and free meals in an attempt to increase the nation’s blood supply.”
“In addition to offering prizes, the Red Cross is also relaxing some of its screening rules to widen the potential donor pool, including extending the length of time some donors can have lived in Europe and still give blood. But the Red Cross says the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved all changes to the guidelines for blood donations to ensure that the blood supply remains safe,” Fox News reports. “The Red Cross admits it doesn’t know what impact the new standards and incentives will have on blood donation, but the organization hopes it will make a difference.”
Full article here.