Blood is an important part of the human body and a necessity for medical treatment. However, recently, there has been a serious shortage of blood in blood banks in many places, and even fell below the minimum stock warning line. The number of blood donors in Shenzhen, Xiamen and other places has dropped significantly, resulting in a low level of whole blood stocks for all blood types. This kind of blood shortage crisis not only brings difficulties and risks to clinical blood use, but also brings worries and warnings to the society and the public. This article will analyze the causes, impacts, and countermeasures of the blood shortage crisis from the following aspects.
Causes of the blood shortage crisis: The decrease in blood donors, the increase in the demand for blood, and the lack of blood management The causes of the blood shortage crisis are mainly in the following three aspects:
Fewer donors: Blood donors are the main source of blood stock**, but recently, there has been a significant decline in the number and quality of blood donors. On the one hand, due to the impact of factors such as the epidemic, temperature, and holidays, many citizens who were originally willing to donate blood chose to postpone or give up blood donation, resulting in a decrease in the number and frequency of blood donations. On the other hand, due to the limitations of health, age, weight and other conditions, many citizens who were originally eligible to donate blood could not pass the screening and testing of blood donation, resulting in a decrease in the quality and efficiency of blood donation. For example, according to 2, the number of blood donors in Shenzhen increased from an average of 4 per month in 202050,000 people, down to a monthly average of 250,000 people, a decrease of 44%. According to 3, the number of blood donors in Jiangsu Province has increased from an average of 6 per month in 202050,000 people, down to a monthly average of 350,000 people, a decrease of 46%.
Increased demand for blood: The demand for blood is the main destination for blood stocks, but recently, there has been a significant increase in the volume and complexity of blood demand. On the one hand, with the development and progress of society, the improvement and popularization of medical standards, many diseases that could not be used for the first time, such as cancer, blood diseases, organ transplantation, etc., can be effectively treated and improved through blood transfusion or exchange transfusion, resulting in an increase in the number and types of blood. On the other hand, with social changes and conflicts, accidents, violent incidents, natural disasters, etc., also occur from time to time, resulting in a large amount of blood loss and blood loss, resulting in an increase in the urgency and difficulty of using blood. For example, according to 4, the demand for blood in Beijing has increased from an average of 5 per month in 202050,000 bags, an increase to an average of 6 per month in 202150,000 bags, an increase of 18%. According to 5 reports, the demand for blood in Jiangxi Province has increased from an average of 3 per month in 202050,000 bags, an increase to an average of 4 per month in 202150,000 bags, an increase of 29%.
Insufficient blood management: Blood management is the main guarantee of blood inventory, but recently, the level and effectiveness of blood management have been insufficient. On the one hand, because the collection, storage, transportation, distribution, and use of blood involve multiple departments and institutions, such as health, public security, civil affairs, and the Red Cross, it is necessary to coordinate and cooperate, but due to the lack of smooth information, imperfect systems, and unclear responsibilities, the efficiency and quality of blood management are reduced. On the other hand, due to the particularity and sensitivity of blood, strict regulation and supervision are required, but due to insufficient resources, unadvanced technology, and unprofessional personnel, the safety and compliance of blood management are reduced. For example, it has been reported that blood collection and storage facilities in some areas are inadequate to meet the demand for clinical blood. It has been reported that there are hidden dangers in the quality and safety of blood in some areas, and there have been problems such as blood infection, expired blood, and blood waste.
Difficulties in clinical blood use: The blood shortage crisis has led to difficulties and risks in clinical blood use, which has affected the quality and effectiveness of medical treatment. On the one hand, due to insufficient blood stocks, many hospitals and clinics are unable to meet the blood needs of patients in a timely and adequate manner, resulting in the delay or cancellation of some necessary surgeries and **, and even the death and disability of some patients. On the other hand, due to the instability of blood, many hospitals and clinics cannot guarantee the quality and safety of blood, resulting in some adverse consequences and effects, such as inappropriate blood, expired blood, blood infection, etc. For example, according to [8], some hospitals in Guangdong Province have had to suspend or curtail some non-emergency surgeries and ** due to blood inventory emergencies, affecting the health and lives of patients. According to [9], some hospitals in Henan Province, due to the lack of blood, have to ask patients and their families for help, asking them to find blood donors or buy blood on their own, increasing the burden and risk for patients.
Social and public concerns: The blood shortage crisis has also triggered social and public worries and warnings, affecting social stability and public confidence. On the one hand, due to the shortage of blood stocks, many societies and the public feel uneasy and panicked about the demand for blood, which has led to some irrational and unreasonable behaviors and reactions, such as rushing to buy blood, hoarding blood, refusing to donate blood, etc. On the other hand, due to the lack of blood management, many societies and the public are dissatisfied with the quality and safety of blood, which leads to some doubts and complaints, such as questioning the quality and legitimacy of blood, complaining about blood and services, etc. For example, according to [10], some citizens in Zhejiang Province, due to fear of blood shortages, not only stockpiled some blood themselves, but also recommended some blood sales to relatives and friends, resulting in blood waste and abuse. According to [11], some citizens in Shandong Province not only refused the invitation to donate blood because they were not sure about the quality and safety of blood, but also reported some blood problems and questions to the relevant departments, and demanded that the supervision and testing of blood be strengthened.
Countermeasures to the blood shortage crisis: to improve the awareness of blood donation, optimize the management of blood use, and strengthen blood cooperation, the countermeasures of the blood shortage crisis mainly include the following three aspects:
Improving the awareness of blood donation: Improving the awareness of blood donation is the fundamental and key to solving the crisis of blood shortage. To raise the awareness of blood donation, it is necessary to adopt a variety of ways and means to increase and encourage the quantity and quality of blood donors from multiple levels and perspectives. On the one hand, it is necessary to strengthen the publicity and education of blood, improve the awareness and importance of blood in society and the public, eliminate misunderstandings and prejudices about blood, establish trust and respect for blood, and cultivate responsibilities and obligations for blood. On the other hand, it is necessary to improve the incentives and guarantees of blood, improve the interests and rights of blood donors, reduce the cost and risk of blood donors, increase the satisfaction and loyalty of blood donors, and form the habits and culture of blood donors. For example, according to a report [12], some blood institutions in Beijing have attracted more citizens to participate in blood donation by carrying out some themed activities and public welfare activities, such as "donating blood to send love" and "donating blood to send Spring Festival couplets", which has increased the enthusiasm and enthusiasm of blood donation. According to [13], some blood institutions in Shanghai have ensured the health and safety of blood donors and improved the efficiency and value of blood donation by providing some preferential services such as "free physical examination for blood donation" and "priority for blood donation".
Optimize the management of blood use: Optimizing the management of blood use is effective and necessary to solve the crisis of blood shortage. To optimize the management of blood use, it is necessary to take a variety of measures and methods from multiple links and aspects to improve and ensure the efficiency and quality of blood use. On the one hand, it is necessary to strengthen the collection and storage of blood, rationally and scientifically plan and allocate blood resources and demand, balance and coordinate the supply and consumption of blood, and prevent and respond to blood shortage and waste. On the other hand, it is necessary to strengthen the transportation and distribution of blood, deliver and use blood quickly and accurately, avoid and reduce blood loss and delay, and meet and ensure the urgency and difficulty of blood use. For example, according to [14], some blood institutions in Guangdong Province have realized real-time monitoring and dynamic scheduling of blood by establishing and improving blood information systems and network systems, and improved the utilization rate and safety rate of blood. According to [15], some blood institutions in Sichuan Province have realized the rapid transportation and timely distribution of blood by establishing and improving the logistics and distribution system of blood, and improved the response speed and service level of blood.
List of high-quality authors