WhyNot?

Mall Blood Giving

Category: Donor-side
Responses: 8 (7 in support, 1 neutral, 0 in opposition)
Number of views: 901
Tracking: Track this idea
Community Rating:Strong StrongYour Rating:

For years, I only gave blood sporadically, because there was no systematic place to do it. I'd attend a blood drive, then not give until the next one, possibly years later. Now I'm a regular, because my town happens to have routine blood giving at an Elks lodge (of all places).

I've wondered for years why there are no blood giving "shops" at the mall! It could probably be staffed by one or two people. You could drop in while you wait for your restaurant reservation time to arrive. It's no longer legal to pay people for their blood, but mall shops might be able to offer a discount to that-day blood donors. The place could be very small, 10 by 10 would do it, and the mall could contribute the space as a charitible donation.

Then there would always be an obvious, convenient place to go to give blood.

hoytster, Nov 21 2003

What do you think of this idea or comment?
(You can change your vote at any time)

agree I agree no opinion No opinion disagree I disagree

Users who liked this idea also liked:

Elevator DeSelect (167 votes) Very strong
Better Brake Light (466 votes) Very strong
Ending the war on drugs (260 votes) Very strong
Aerial pictures in flight (226 votes) Very strong
Audio-in Jacks in Cars (186 votes) Very strong
Airport charity (150 votes) Very strong
Good Samaritan Switch (60 votes) Very strong
Attachment Notation (139 votes) Very strong
worst rated ideas (69 votes) Very strong
Cable TV (94 votes) Very strong

Other ideas in category (Donor-side):

Comments from other members:

Add your comment

One caveat: the "techs" on hand would also need to know a good amount of emergency medicine. For example, i cannot give blood, as I faint. the last time I did was at a hospital blood bank, and the one doctor handy was the blood pathologist. i woke up to their complaints that "it had been years since their schooling and since they had to revive a patient!" They spent their days over a microscope.

sheridanpa, Nov 25 2003

There are 2 other locations discussing blood donations on this website search for blood and you'll find more thoughts.

Kim_P, Feb 13 2004

Bad idea. To staff a room in a mall with professional medical personnel is like opening a free clinic. First people will come for the free OJ, asking for extra band-aids.. there would undoubtedly be medical emergencies which deservedly require their attention... where will you keep several dozen pints of blood a day? And where will the money to pay for equipment, staff, the management thereof, not to mention renting the space at the mall?

A better compromise- petition or lobby your community for more community blood drives, once, twice, three times a week. I'm sure they'll have plenty of downtime even on that schedule.

Jnoots, Apr 03 2005

My ex-wife worked at a blood bank, in the "on-site" department. The staff would travel to various locations, such as shopping malls, factories, lodges, whatever. Most blood banks have this capability, it's just a matter of scheduling and of informing people about the availability of the service. Staffing and equipping a dedicated, permanent location carries a good bit more overhead expense (do you have any idea what mall rents are?) than the occaisional use of a fraternal lodge or school gymnasium. "On-site" usually requires only a large van or specially-equipped RV to carry equipment to and from the donation locations.

Ex (and other staff) was always amused by large, macho men passing out during or following blood donation, it's fairly common (sometimes they made bets among themselves about which donors would pass out). It seems the bigger (and more muscular) they are, the faster they fall- and the more embarassed by it.

Beaugrand, Aug 28 2005