Released: Sunday, June 16

Blood Donors Poll

Poll suggests people have growing confidence in blood supply, but many don't contribute

WASHINGTON (AP) - Americans have a growing confidence in the blood supply and generally feel hospitals can provide blood when needed, even though most people don't donate blood, says an Associated Press poll.

Almost nine in 10, 86 percent, said they had at least some confidence in the safety of the blood supply, according to the poll conducted for The AP by ICR of Media, Pa. About half that group, 41 percent, said they had a lot of confidence in the blood supply.

The number with a lot of confidence in the blood supply has increased significantly in the last decade from three in 10 in 1993, with that increase coming from the group with some confidence. In the 1980s and early 1990s, confidence in the blood supply was hurt by anxieties over AIDS and other diseases. Blood banks have put in substantial screening procedures since then.

"I feel if the blood supply is handled by medical professionals, it's safe," said Larry Blankemeyer, a 46-year-old businessman from the Philadelphia area. "It has more credibility."

Blankemeyer says he is a frequent donor and gives as often as he can.

"I do it because I can save a life without much personal risk to myself," he said.

Frequent donors like Blankemeyer are a relatively small group. Health professionals say the frequent donor pool is 5 percent of those eligible to give. Substantially more in the poll, 14 percent of all Americans said they give every year, an inflation of the total probably caused by people wanting to give a socially acceptable answer.

Three fourths acknowledged that they are very infrequent donors. Of that group, the biggest reason - cited by four in 10 of the infrequent donors - was health concerns that prevent them from donating.

Dr. Harvey Klein, a specialist in blood transfusion at the National Institutes of Health, said the high number who can't donate because of health reasons doesn't surprise him.

The number not allowed to donate blood includes "a large segment of the population," he said, adding that blood banks "bend over backward not to endanger the general population or the patient."

Some have given blood in the past only to find out they aren't suited to it.

Nora Byers, an 84-year-old retiree from Tyler, Texas, had that experience years ago when she donated.

"I donated one time," she said. "I ended up taking iron for a few weeks."

The two biggest reasons people don't give after health concerns is fear of needles, 14 percent, and not having enough time, 13 percent. The poll of 1,000 adults was taken April 12-17 and has an error margin of plus or minus 3 percentage points.

Young adults were most likely to say they didn't like needles. Adults from age 35 to 44 were most likely to say they don't have time.

Pat Sutler, a 36-year-old businessman from Gaston, S.C. said he hasn't given for years and doesn't have time. He has two children and both he and his wife run businesses.

"I haven't done it for years, I don't have time," Sutler said. "It's an impossible situation just to get supper fixed each night."

Four in five said they are at least somewhat confident that hospitals in their communities will have blood when it is needed. That perception is generally accurate when it comes to emergency medical help, but optional surgery is frequently postponed because of blood shortages, said Klein, the blood transfusion specialist.

"We have had real shortages in the last three or four years," Klein said, noting a recent survey of more than 2,000 hospitals. "As many as a quarter have had to postpone elective surgeries at least once."