As National Blood Donor Month celebrates its 54th year and numerous organizations and individuals mobilize for the event this month, student organizations are being recognized for their role in providing mission-critical support, according to the country’s leading blood supplier, America’s Blood Centers.
The nation’s current blood supply is especially low. The American Red Cross reports that it is experiencing an emergency blood shortage with the lowest number of donors in 20 years. Historically, student-run blood drives have helped provide many of the roughly seven million donors who give each year, so the efforts of students and student organizations to achieve national blood supply goals are key.
“Students play a vital role in ensuring a sustainable blood supply for those in need,” advised Kate Fry, CEO of America’s Blood Centers. “The blood community is grateful for the countless schools nationwide that open their doors to their local blood center and the many student leaders and partnering groups that organize drives to help patients across their community.”
Blood transfusions, commonly characterized as the transfer of blood from one individual to another in need, rank among the most frequent medical procedures performed in hospitals. Supplies of red blood cells, platelets, and plasma are all required for transfusions in the hospital setting, and blood-type matches are typically required with some exceptions in emergencies.
More than 42,000 units of red blood cells, platelets, and plasma are used by patients every day in the United States—the equivalent of a transfusion every two seconds. Some transfusions answer acute-care needs such as trauma and blood loss during childbirth. Others are used to treat patients with a variety of health conditions, including cancer, inherited blood disorders, cardiovascular and orthopedic surgeries, and organ and bone marrow transplants.
ABC and its international division, The Association for Blood Donor Professionals, have released Vein to Vein: The Science of Blood Donation, a groundbreaking high school education program to help educators craft lesson plans to develop student leadership skills and a lifelong interest in supporting our nation’s blood supply. This turn-key resource is educator-crafted and designed to meet Next Generation Science Standards. Implementation goes beyond the field of science to also offer opportunities to integrate English Language Arts and Mathematics.
In addition, ABC has partnered with HOSA-Future Health Professionals as it “recognizes HOSA chapters’ outstanding contributions in strengthening our nation’s blood supply and builds the next generation of lifelong blood donors,” according to the ABC website. Sarah Walters, HOSA-Future Health Professionals’ Executive Director, detailed the achievements of her organization’s student leaders in their collaborative efforts with donor drives. “We are proud of the HOSA chapters across the country who donated more than 21,000 units last year, resulting in lives saved and positive career experiences for our members.” Walters looks forward to continuing the HOSA-ABC partnership to ensure a sustainable blood supply and a future health workforce.
Health Professions Week, an organization that celebrates the diverse and vital roles of health professionals in our society, also amplifies and encourages the crucial role that students are filling in securing this precious resource. According to HPW’s Executive Director, Mandy S. Nau, MSHR, “Blood donations save lives every day. We are proud to recognize the students who volunteer to organize blood drives, the phlebotomists who take care of patients, and the work of America’s Blood Centers, whose members provide blood and blood products to more than 3,500 hospitals and healthcare facilities across the country.”
Antonio Mancuso, MEd, A-CSPO, and Co-Chair of the HPW Executive Committee, agrees with Nau’s assessment based on his own firsthand experiences supporting blood drives as a student. “Hosting a blood drive on campus is a simple and rewarding way to help save lives. All you need is a campus location and a few great volunteers, and a local blood bank partner. You can promote your event through flyers, social media, and word of mouth. By hosting a blood drive, you can make a difference in your community and show your support for a noble cause.”
For more information on how students can get started organizing their own blood drive immediately, during this month’s National Blood Donor Month event, or anytime of the year, contact Jeff Gohringer, Director of Strategic Communications and National Partnerships at America’s Blood Centers at jgohringer@americasblood.org.