Red Cross graphic: Blood type letters A, B, AB and O in blue snowflakes.
As the final holiday rush arrives, the American Red Cross asks donors to shake up their holiday plans and give blood or platelets now and throughout the end of the year.
According to AAA, nearly 113 million people are expected to travel at least 50 miles from home between Dec. 23 and Jan. 2, meaning many who may have otherwise given blood will likely defer their donation until the new year. Unfortunately, trauma patients in the emergency room, those undergoing cancer treatment and new parents in need of lifesaving transfusions can’t take a holiday break. The need for blood and platelets is constant.
It’s important for donors − especially type O blood donors and platelet donors − to give now to ensure hospitals have the blood they need into the new year. Schedule an appointment by using the Red Cross Blood Donor App, visiting RedCrossBlood.org or calling 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767).
As a thank-you, all who come to give Dec. 16-Jan. 2 will get a long-sleeved Red Cross T-shirt, while supplies last.
Amplify your impact − volunteer!
Another way to support the lifesaving mission of the Red Cross is to become a volunteer blood donor ambassador at Red Cross blood drives. Blood donor ambassadors help greet, check-in and thank blood donors to ensure they have a positive donation experience.
Volunteers can also serve as transportation specialists, playing a vital role in ensuring lifesaving blood products are delivered to nearby hospitals. For more information and to apply for either position, visit redcross.org/volunteertoday.
Stacey Morris at the American Red Cross Blood Donation Center in Horsham. Photo by Alana Mauger/American Red Cross
In March 2019, Stacey Morris made an appointment to see her doctor, concerned about feeling tired and noticing some unexplained bruises on her body. She had blood drawn as part of the exam. The next day, her doctor called with an alarming directive: go to the ER immediately.
Stacey was admitted to the hospital and received 2 units of red blood cells and 1 unit of platelets. After months of testing, including a bone marrow biopsy, and more transfusions of both blood and platelets, Stacey was diagnosed with Aplastic Anemia and borderline MDS (myelodysplastic syndromes – conditions that can occur when the blood-forming cells in the bone marrow become abnormal)
“I can’t even explain the feeling when you don’t have enough blood in your body,” she said. “It’s like a dream state. Those transfusions made an immediate difference.”
In total, Stacey received about 20 units of blood and 8 units of platelets. Because she had an adverse reaction to her initial platelet transfusion, she required HLA-matched platelets (human leukocyte antigens — proteins on most cells in your body) going forward. The American Red Cross helped by finding a donor that matched her needs. She shared that every time she needed a platelet transfusion, the Red Cross contacted that donor, who then scheduled a platelet donation specifically for her!
“The Red Cross has literally saved my life,” she says each time she shares her story. “I wish I knew who my platelet donor was so I can thank them personally.”
Stacey is two years into a process to “reboot” her bone marrow through medication. She’s currently on the lowest medication dose to date and recently underwent a second bone marrow biopsy to see if her bone marrow is functioning properly. If not, Stacey may undergo a bone marrow transplant.
About a year ago, she felt well enough to go back to work part-time as a dental assistant. She resides in Linfield, Pennsylvania with her husband and 3 teenage children.
As more people make travel plans to celebrate with family and friends this year, the American Red Cross asks donors to set aside a time to give blood or platelets for patients waiting for care over the holidays.
Throughout the season, several factors can disrupt the ability of the Red Cross to collect enough blood for patients across the country.
Travel: According to a recent study, nearly half of Americans plan to travel over the holidays this year, which may negatively impact the blood supply if fewer people come out to donate.
Seasonal illness: The U.S. is seeing a rise in respiratory illnesses like the flu and RSV, which can decrease the availability of healthy donors.
Weather: Parts of the country have already seen storms bring several feet of snow this year. Winter weather often leads to hazardous road conditions, canceling blood drives and making it dangerous for donors to venture out to give.
It’s important for donors − especially type O blood donors and platelet donors − to give now to ensure hospitals have the blood they need through the end of the year. Schedule an appointment by using the Red Cross Blood Donor App, visiting RedCrossBlood.org or calling 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767).
As a thank-you, all who come to give blood through Dec. 15 will receive a $10 Amazon.com Gift Card by email, thanks to Amazon.* Those who come to give Dec. 16-Jan. 2 will get a long-sleeved Red Cross T-shirt, while supplies last.
Amplify your impact − volunteer!
Another way to support the lifesaving mission of the Red Cross is to become a volunteer blood donor ambassador at Red Cross blood drives. Blood donor ambassadors help greet, check-in and thank blood donors to ensure they have a positive donation experience.
Volunteers can also serve as transportation specialists, playing a vital role in ensuring lifesaving blood products are delivered to nearby hospitals. For more information and to apply for either position, visit redcross.org/volunteertoday.
American Red Cross graphic: Urgently Needed! Volunteers to deliver blood to hospitals.
The American Red Cross needs special volunteers to deliver blood products to hospitals in Southeastern Pennsylvania and New Jersey and provide the vital link between blood donors and patients who need blood products.
Volunteers in the blood transportation specialist position have two important assignments — to transport blood from our blood collection sites throughout Southeastern Pennsylvania and New Jersey to our lab in Philadelphia for testing and processing, and to deliver blood products from our lab to hospitals in the area using a Red Cross-owned vehicle.
“It only takes a few hours each week to have an impact on someone’s life. When you join us as a member of our Blood Transportation Team, you’ll serve as a critical link in getting blood donations to those who need them,” said Helen Munizza, Penn Jersey regional donor services executive. “Training is free, but the blood you deliver is priceless.”
WHAT DOES IT TAKE?
These crucial volunteers will be asked to fill two to four shifts in their region each month, with the assignment usually taking about four hours to complete. The need for these transports may be scheduled during the day, in the evening and on weekends.
If you have a valid state driver’s license and at least 3 years of licensed driving experience, you can choose regular routes, stand-by emergency deliveries or both. This is a great volunteer opportunity for couples, friends or family members to do together. Volunteers should be familiar with the area and be able to lift as much as 45 pounds. Training is provided by the Red Cross. Blood transportation specialists can schedule their own hours while helping patients in need.
“I love driving, love being busy,” shares David Brown, a retired U.S. Navy pilot, who volunteers to drive blood from the Red Cross blood center in Philadelphia to hospitals almost daily. He finds this volunteer opportunity “super flexible,” as he is able to choose the schedule that works for him. His favorite part about this role is knowing that he’s helping to save lives. “Sometimes you walk into a hospital, and someone is standing waiting for that box of blood.”
If helping hospital patients who need blood and blood products during their battle back to health is of interest to you, visit redcross.org/volunteertoday for more information.
Nearly half of all donated platelet donations go to cancer patients.
October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and at the American Red Cross we add our voices to promote awareness of the impact of this disease. It is estimated that one in eight women in the U.S. will be diagnosed with breast cancer in her lifetime. In 2022, a projected 287,500 new cases will be diagnosed in the U.S alone, where the disease is the second leading cause of cancer death in women.
A diagnosis of breast cancer, overwhelming on its own, can trigger prolonged stress and grief, added to the challenge of seeking and undergoing treatment. Cancer patients benefit from a network of support. Whether or not someone close to you is struggling with breast cancer, you can still support the broader community of cancer patients in one key way: by donating blood.
Blood and platelet donations are important to breast–and all–cancer patients. Why? Cancer and its treatment can cause anemia (low red blood count levels), and chemotherapy can damage bone marrow and cause a drop in platelets. Both of these conditions are commonly addressed through blood transfusions. Thus, having access to adequate blood supply through transfusions can directly improve the health of cancer patients.
To find a blood drive near you, visit RedCrossBlood.org or download the Blood Donor App. With the App, you can actually track where your blood is sent.
To learn more about resources for breast cancer treatment and support services, visit the links below:
Since 1991, the National Breast Cancer Foundation has worked to help those affected by breast cancer through early detection, education, and support services. The NBCF advocates for early screening and, through a network of medical facilities nationwide, provides free mammograms and diagnostic services for women in need through its National Mammography Program.
Written by Judith Weeks with Photography by Bill Thawley
A person with Sickle Cell Disease can receive as many as 100 units of blood in one year. These blood transfusions are necessary to treat complications from this condition. But the transfusion itself can cause complications. Blood from a pool of donors is matched best as possible; however, a person with Sickle Cell Disease may develop an immune response making it more difficult to find donors. Most persons with Sickle Cell Disease are African American and the most compatible blood generally comes from African Americans.
American Red Cross Laboratories in Philadelphia play a critical role typing blood donated by African Americans.
The National Molecular Laboratory (NML) is the only American Red Cross Laboratory providing genotyping of donors. A person’s genomic DNA contains information that is a more comprehensive predictor of a close blood match than the usual serology typing. African American donors who are genotyped are given the opportunity for membership in the American Rare Blood Donor Program, a national initiative to ensure blood is available for those who need it.
Dr. Margaret Keller, pictured below, Executive Director, National Laboratories, explained there is a shortage of African American donors. Last year the American Red Cross began the Sickle Cell Initiative to increase the number of active African American donors.
Test tubes of donor’s blood are delivered to the NML for genotyping. Giancarlo Rendon, pictured below, examines a sample of DNA purified from whole blood.
Below, Melissa Verstegen places tiny drops of donor’s DNA on a glass slide.
Dr. Martin Chou, pictured below, Director of the NML, explains the MALDI TOF analyzer used for identification of DNA in each donor’s sample
Below, Julia Nezhinsky places the slide with DNA into the MALDI TOF analyzer.
Below, Daria Buono analyzes DNA data from the MALDI TOF analyzer identifying genes carried by a donor.
The National Reference Laboratory for Specialized Testing (NRLST) has expertise for specialized serology. Serology is used for typing ABO and Rh blood groups. This laboratory takes serology a step further with a panel of antibodies for typing blood units from African American donors selecting the best donor for patients with Sickle Cell Disease.
Below, Dexter Facey, Manager, places cartridges into an automated system for typing African American blood donors.
The Immunohematology Reference Laboratory (IRL) is one of forty-five American Red Cross IRLs nationwide. This laboratory has the resources for red blood cell serology typing of rare blood types. It selects blood units from African American donors that best match a patient with Sickle Cell Disease.
Below, Marie Dolce types blood units from African American donors.
Below, Paul Mansfield, IRL Director, and Leslie Pride review blood typing results before releasing blood units sent to hospitals where patients are transfused.
Paul explains “the American Red Cross Sickle Cell Initiative has brought the entire organization together focusing on serving patients with Sickle Cell Disease.”
The work of these laboratory scientists is critical! Lives are saved by advanced genotyping and serologic typing performed at the American Red Cross, allowing the best possible blood products for persons with Sickle Cell Disease.
To learn more about sickle cell disease, check out the following links:
On the first day of fall, the American Red Cross is asking the public to start the season off with a lifesaving blood or platelet donation. While the leaves turn, the need for blood never changes. Those who give this fall play an important role in keeping the blood supply high enough to help patients counting on blood products for care– especially ahead of the busy holiday season. Book a time to give blood or platelets by using the Red Cross Blood Donor App, visiting RedCrossBlood.org or by calling 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767).
As a thank-you, the Red Cross is offering these exciting opportunities for donors:
All who come to give through Sept. 30 will be automatically entered for a chance to win a VIP NASCAR racing experience, including two tickets to a 2023 Sport Clips Haircuts-sponsored race of the winner’s choice, round-trip airfare for two, up to a three-night hotel stay, and entry to a Sport Clips racetrack hospitality tent, if available, plus a $750 gift card, thanks to Sport Clips.
Those who come to give in September will also receive a coupon for a free haircut by email, also thanks to Sport Clips. Details are available at rcblood.org/racetogive.
All who come to give Oct. 1-31, 2022, will receive a $5 e-Gift Card by email to a merchant of choice.
How to donate blood
Simply download the American Red Cross Blood Donor App, visit RedCrossBlood.org, call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) or enable the Blood Donor Skill on any Alexa Echo device to make an appointment or for more information. All blood types are needed to ensure a reliable supply for patients. A blood donor card or driver’s license or two other forms of identification are required at check-in. Individuals who are 17 years of age in most states (16 with parental consent where allowed by state law), weigh at least 110 pounds and are in generally good health may be eligible to donate blood. High school students and other donors 18 years of age and younger also have to meet certain height and weight requirements.
Blood and platelet donors can save time at their next donation by using RapidPass® to complete their pre-donation reading and health history questionnaire online, on the day of their donation, before arriving at the blood drive. To get started, follow the instructions at RedCrossBlood.org/RapidPass or use the Blood Donor App.
When Tahirah Austin-Muhammad was born in the late 1980s, testing for sickle cell disease in newborns was not a standard practice at many hospitals. So when her symptoms appeared at age 4 – tiredness, aches and pains, stomach aches – Tahriah’s parents treated it the only way they knew how – Tylenol, homemade rubs and lots of love.
But when she started kindergarten, it became clear that something else was going on.
“I loved to play, but it tired me out quickly. I couldn’t keep up with my peers physically,” she recalled. “Everything came to a head when I passed out at school. I stood up, walked to the door and blacked out.”
Tahirah describes the situation as “being blurry” when she woke up, but she remembers feeling tired and being in so much pain that she couldn’t sit up. Her dad arrived at the school and drove her straight to Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP).
She was first diagnosed with leukemia, but then Dr. Kim Smith, a physician who specialized in sickle cell disease, took a second look at her lab work.
“Sickle cell disease is often misdiagnosed. That’s why it’s important to have doctors who look like us,” Tahirah shared.
That was her first sickle cell crisis at age 6, but it would be far from her last. Tahirah spent most of fourth grade hospitalized at CHOP. Later her spleen, gallbladder and appendix were removed in the first of many major surgeries.
Despite it all, she credits her parents and CHOP family for instilling in her the belief that there’s nothing she couldn’t do.
“I ran track in eighth grade. I just had to take more breaks and hydrate a lot more,” she said.
Pediatric vs adult care
Tahirah earned a bachelor’s degree in Biology from Neumann University and has traveled the world. She has thrived in spite of her condition. But like all people living with sickle cell disease, her transition from pediatric to adult care was wrought with obstacles.
“My first experience in an adult [emergency department], I sat there for over 10 hours. I cried. I called my social worker at CHOP and begged to come back,” she recalled. “She provided me with real-time advocacy – what to say to get the help I needed. It’s so stressful when you’re in a pain crisis.”
In the U.S., sickle cell disease predominately affects people who are Black or Latino. Tahirah explains that it’s often seen as a childhood disease.
“The goal pediatrics had was for us to survive to adulthood, but the adult side wasn’t ready for us,” she said. “There is racial bias and extreme inequities in health care. I realized there was a need for support for adults with sickle cell once I got into adult care. Too many of us were dying for preventable things.”
Sickle cell advocacy
In 2017, Tahirah co-founded the Philadelphia-based Crescent Foundation, whose mission is to support sickle cell survivors, families and communities with evidence-based research and advocacy. Among its initiatives, the foundation helps sickle cell patients ages 18-24 transition into adult care. It also provides case management to help patients and their families coordinate their medical and social service needs. Importantly, the foundation also educates the next generation of health care professionals about sickle cell disease.
Tahirah admits that as her status, and the status of her fellow Crescent Foundation co-founders, changed in the city of Philadelphia, so did their access to quality health care.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Tahirah was hospitalized for the first time in 6 years. She describes being put into triage within 5 minutes of arriving in the ER before being admitted for a lung infection. At the same time, in the same hospital where she was receiving compassionate treatment, a young woman was repeatedly calling the Crescent Foundation pleading for help because she had already been in the waiting room for 8 hours.
“I felt helpless; the only difference was they recognized me. My care has changed, and it shouldn’t have,” she said. “Good, compassionate care should be given to everyone at all times.”
The Crescent Foundation held a Red Cross Sickle Cell Awareness Month blood drive in 2021. Pictured (from left): La Valle Warren, Red Cross sickle cell account manager; Tahirah Austin-Muhammad, Crescent Foundation COO and co-founder; Jawanda Hargrove and Shaun Griggs, sickle cell patient advocates; and Ediomi Utuk-Lowery, Crescent Foundation chief marketing and communications officer and co-founder. Photo by Alana Mauger/American Red Cross
Blood donations help
Like many sickle cell survivors, blood transfusions play an important role in Tahirah’s treatment – but it has to be the right match. Repeated blood transfusions over someone’s lifetime can cause a patient to develop a life-threatening immune response against blood from donors that is not closely matched to their own – something Tahirah has experienced more than once.
In Philadelphia, blood from donors who self-identify as Black or African-American is marked with a blue tie tag, designating it as a potential match for a sickle cell patient. Extra tests are performed to ensure recipients receive the right blood.
“I wouldn’t be sitting here today without someone with a good heart,” said Tahirah. “Thank you to whoever is donating blood, but we need so much more.”
Visit our website to learn more about how blood donations help people living with sickle cell disease and the importance of maintaining a diverse blood supply for patients.
During Sickle Cell Awareness Month in September, the American Red Cross emphasizes the importance of a diverse blood supply to help meet the needs of those with sickle cell disease – the most common inherited blood disorder in the U.S.
Sickle cell disease impacts more than 100,000 people across the country, most of whom are of African descent. Regular blood transfusions are critical to managing extreme pain and life-threatening complications faced by many. Unfortunately, they may develop an immune response against blood from donors that is not closely matched to their own. However, because most individuals who are Black have unique structures on their red blood cells that are not often found in other donor populations, 1 in 3 African American blood donors is a match for people with sickle cell disease.
Seasonal changes can trigger pain crises for those battling sickle cell – possibly increasing the need for lifesaving blood transfusions. As summer ends, book a time to give blood by using the Red Cross Blood Donor App, visiting RedCrossBlood.org or by calling 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767). As a thank-you, all who come to give through Sept. 18 will get an exclusive Red Cross T-shirt, while supplies last.
Life-threatening complications
Sickle cell disease distorts soft, round blood cells and turns them hard and crescent-shaped, which can cause severe pain. “When cells harden, they can get caught in blood vessels, potentially leading to stroke and organ failure,” says Dr. David Moolten, Red Cross Medical Director for the Penn Jersey region. “Transfusions provide healthy blood cells, unblocking blood vessels and delivering oxygen, minimizing crises patients with sickle cell may face.”
Like many individuals living with sickle cell disease, Tahirah Austin-Muhammad, COO and co-founder of the Crescent Foundation in Philadelphia, says blood transfusions are an important part of her ongoing treatment – but it has to be the right match. She has been hospitalized for reactions to transfused blood more than once. She has also had to wait days for transfusions when a match wasn’t readily available.
“I wouldn’t be sitting here today without someone with a good heart,” said Austin-Muhammad. “Thank you to whoever is donating blood, but we need so much more.”
Joined by Blood
To help ensure patients have the blood products they need, the American Red Cross is working with partners in the Black community to grow the number of blood donors who are Black through the sickle cell initiative, which launched in 2021. In the first year of the initiative, the number of first-time African American blood donors who gave with the Red Cross increased by 60%. In September and October, the Red Cross launches Joined by Blood, a fall component of the initiative where the Red Cross is teaming up with community organizations, like the National Pan-Hellenic Council and others, to host blood drives and inspire donors who are Black to give blood to support patients with sickle cell disease. To learn more, visit RedCrossBlood.org/OurBlood.
Upcoming blood donation opportunities
The Red Cross has dozens of community blood donation opportunities every day in the Greater Philadelphia Region, including the following sickle cell-focused blood drives. For a full list, visit RedCrossBlood.org.
Sept. 10, 10 a.m.- 3 p.m. – Masons Prince Hall, 4301 N. Broad St., Philadelphia
Sept. 19, 1-6 p.m. – Temple University HealthLink, Howard Gittis Student Center, 1755 N. 13th St., Philadelphia
Sept. 21, 10 a.m.-8 p.m. – University of Pennsylvania Hospital, 1 Convention Ave.
Sept. 23, 1-6 p.m. – Temple University Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Howard Gittis Student Center, 175 N. 13th St., Philadelphia
Sept. 24, 10 a.m.-3 p.m. – Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., 301 N. Jackson St., Media
Sept. 24, 9 a.m.-2 p.m. – Bethlehem Baptist Church, 712 Penllyn Pike, Spring House
Sept. 28, 10 a.m.-3 p.m. – CHOP Sickle Cell Parent Network at PA Senior Center on the Avenue of the Arts, 509 S. Broad St.
Sept. 28, 1-6 p.m. – Chester Senior Center, 721 Hayes St., Chester
Testing for sickle cell trait
At a time when health information has never been more important, the Red Cross is screening all blood, platelet and plasma donations from self-identified African American donors for the sickle cell trait. This additional screening will provide Black donors with an additional health insight and help the Red Cross identify compatible blood types more quickly to help patients with sickle cell disease. Donors can expect to receive sickle cell trait screening results, if applicable, within one to two weeks through the Red Cross Blood Donor App and the online donor portal at RedCrossBlood.org.
To learn more about sickle cell disease, check out the following links:
Governor Tom Wolf signed a proclamation designating Sept. 4, 2022 as Blood Donation Day in Pennsylvania – part of a National Blood Donation Week effort to encourage eligible donors to give blood around Labor Day. The American Red Cross invites the Greater Philadelphia community to help save lives at blood drives planned this week.
For the seventh consecutive year, media personality Dr. Daliah Wachs has worked to enlist all 50 states in promoting blood donation. Dr. Daliah, who hosts a syndicated radio program on GCN and is heard on iHeart Radio, speaks to her listeners weekly about various medical topics and understands why it’s important to have a robust blood supply. After hearing about an emergency need for more donors, she decided to establish a National Blood Donation Day, strategically timed right around the Labor Day holiday, when blood donations often decline due to busy holiday schedules. Dr. Daliah has asked each state governor to join her by proclaiming the service day in their home state.
“Blood and platelet donations are needed every day for unexpected emergencies and serious medical conditions, such as cancer or sickle cell disease,” said Guy Triano, CEO for the Red Cross Southeastern Pennsylvania Region. “Giving blood is a meaningful way to help your community, and now is the perfect time to roll up a sleeve to make a potentially lifesaving difference.”
To learn more about blood donation, including eligibility information, download the American Red Cross Blood Donor App, visit RedCrossBlood.org or call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767). If you were deferred from donating in the past, you may be able to donate again.
