New Tech Eases Fear of Needles, Boosts Blood Donations in the US: Virtual Reality Experience Helps Overcome Phobia

In the United States, there is currently a severe blood shortage, which has not been seen in over two decades. This crisis is partly due to a significant fear of needles among adults, with one in four individuals experiencing this phobia. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported this statistic.

To address this issue, new technology is emerging to help people overcome their fear of needles and encourage blood donation. One such innovation is the mixed-reality blood donation experience developed by Abbott and Blood Centers of America. This groundbreaking technology allows donors to wear a lightweight headset that provides a virtual reality-like experience while still enabling them to see their real-world surroundings.

Maggie Schmidt, a blood donor, shared her experience with this mixed-reality technology in an interview with Spectrum News 1’s Mercedes Williams. Schmidt described how the immersive virtual reality experience helped her remain calm during the blood donation process. She even built a Zen garden in the virtual world to create a more relaxed environment for herself during the procedure.

This innovative approach to blood donation has the potential to increase donor participation and contribute to meeting the critical need for blood donations in the United States. As World Blood Donor Day approaches, it is essential to recognize the importance of giving blood and supporting initiatives like mixed-reality technology to help address this ongoing blood shortage.