LifeSouth Marks Sickle Cell Awareness Month by Calling on Donors to Help Patients Who Depend on Lifesaving Blood
Blood donors, particularly Black and African American donors, can provide critically important matches for patients living with sickle cell disease
During Sickle Cell Awareness Month this September, LifeSouth Community Blood Centers is encouraging communities across Alabama, Florida and Georgia to donate blood and help patients living with sickle cell disease who may depend on regular blood transfusions throughout their lives.
Sickle cell disease (SCD) is an inherited blood disorder affecting approximately 100,000 people in the United States. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, SCD occurs in about one out of every 365 Black or African American births and approximately one out of every 16,300 Hispanic American births.
In people with sickle cell disease, red blood cells can become hard, sticky and crescent-shaped instead of remaining round and flexible. These cells can become lodged in small blood vessels, restricting blood and oxygen flow throughout the body. The disease can cause severe pain, anemia, infections and serious complications including stroke and damage to organs. For many patients, blood transfusions are a critical part of treatment. Some patients may need transfusions as frequently as every four weeks. Because receiving repeated transfusions can increase the risk of complications, finding donors whose blood is closely matched to a patient is especially important.
LifeSouth tests blood donations to identify donors whose red blood cell antigen profiles may closely match patients living with sickle cell disease. These special donors are known as Sickle Cell Heroes.
Because blood characteristics are inherited, patients are often more likely to find closely matched blood among donors who share a similar racial or ethnic background. For many sickle cell patients, Black and African American blood donors can provide some of the best potential matches. Increasing diversity among blood donors helps LifeSouth provide patients with the closely matched blood they may need for safer, more effective transfusions.
LifeSouth’s 365 Movement recognizes that patients with sickle cell disease need support 365 days a year. The program works to identify donors who can provide specially matched blood and encourages those donors to give regularly so blood can be available when patients need it.
Community members can support patients living with sickle cell disease by:
- Donating blood. Every LifeSouth blood donation may help identify a donor who is a special match for a sickle cell patient.
- Becoming a Sickle Cell Hero. Donors identified as matches are encouraged to donate regularly to help provide the specially matched blood patients may need throughout the year.
- Supporting the 365 Movement. Individuals, businesses, churches, schools and community organizations can host blood drives and encourage regular blood donation.
- Encouraging diverse communities to give. A diverse blood donor base increases the likelihood that patients who require closely matched blood will find the donors they need.
LifeSouth provides blood products to hospitals throughout Alabama, Florida, Georgia and Tennessee. Blood collected in the community helps ensure local hospitals have the blood needed for sickle cell patients as well as patients undergoing cancer treatment, surgery, trauma care and other medical treatment.
To learn more about sickle cell disease, the 365 Movement and becoming a Sickle Cell Hero, visit LifeSouth.org/Become-a-Sickle-Cell-Hero.
Blood donors must be at least 17 years old, or 16 with written parental consent, weigh at least 110 pounds and meet additional eligibility requirements. A photo ID is required.
To find a LifeSouth donor center or blood drive, make an appointment or learn more about blood donation, visit LifeSouth.org or call 888-795-2707.
