The New England Sickle Cell Institute is hosting a blood drive at UConn Health during the Buffalo Soldiers Ride and Walk for Research, on September 16, 2017. We need your support to replenish the blood supplies for Connecticut hospitals. Please see donation criteria below. To register, contact Rashea M. Banks by phone at 860-372-6369 or by email at RBanks@uchc.edu.
Criteria for blood donation in CT:
Please visit the website, http://www.redcrossblood.org/donating-blood/eligibility-requirements for more eligibility information.
Sickle Cell Facts:
- Sickle cell disease affects red blood cells. It makes them hard and “sickle” shaped instead of soft and round.
- As a result of the disease, blood has difficulty flowing smoothly and carrying oxygen to the rest of the body.
- In the U.S., it is estimated that over 70,000 people have sickle cell disease. And roughly 1,000 babies are born with the disease each year.
- Sickle cell disease is a very serious disease and it can be life threatening. It can lead to anemia (a shortage of red blood cells), causing fatigue and possibly damage to blood vessels and vital organs. And it often causes severe pain that can last for hours or days.
- A single patient with sickle cell disease can receive up to 50-100 pints of blood each year.
- Generally the best blood match for a patient requiring ongoing transfusions comes from donors of the same ethnic or genetic background. Use of this matched blood can decrease the risk of complications related to transfusion therapy, especially in patients who receive lifelong transfusions
For more information, contact: Rashea M. Banks at 860-372-6369