When patients living with sickle cell disease face a sickle cell crisis, blood transfusions can make a lifesaving difference. That’s why the American Red Cross has launched an initiative to grow the number of blood donors who are Black to help patients with sickle cell disease, an enduring and often invisible health disparity in the U.S.
“Blood transfusion is mainstay of treatment for folks with sickle cell disease especially for complications such as stroke, recurrent acute chest syndrome or pulmonary hypertension,” said Dr. Reginia Crawford from the Durham VA and Duke University Sickle Cell program. “Ideally, red blood cell exchange is optimal because you can give several units without increasing volume and best in emergent situations such as acute stroke, acute chest, multiorgan failure. Simple transfusions are best with low hematocrits. Red blood cell exchange is sometimes used for men with sickle cell disease and persistent/recurrent priapism. In short, transfusions are key in sickle cell disease.”
Many patients with sickle cell disease will require regular blood transfusions to help manage their disease. Unfortunately, these patients may develop an immune response against blood from donors that is not closely matched to their own. Many individuals who are Black have distinct markers on their red blood cells. This makes their donations ideal for helping patients with sickle cell disease. More than half of blood donors who are Black have blood that is free of C, E and K antigens. This makes them the best match for those with sickle cell disease.
The Red Cross asks members of the Black community to join in helping to address this health disparity and meet the needs of patients with sickle cell disease. Donors can take action today by scheduling a blood donation appointment at RedCrossBlood.org, by downloading the Blood Donor App or by calling 1-800-RED CROSS.
September is Sickle Cell Awareness Month. To help tackle the need for blood, all donors who come to give with the Red Cross Sept. 13-30 will receive a limited-edition football-themed T-shirt, while supplies last.
Sickle cell disease distorts soft, round blood cells and turns them hard and crescent-shaped, which can cause extreme pain. When hardened, the cells can get caught in blood vessels, potentially leading to stroke and organ failure.
“Transfusions provide healthy blood cells, unblocking blood vessels and delivering oxygen,” said Lisa Macaluso, Regional Donor Services Executive for the Red Cross of the National Capital & Greater Chesapeake Region. “By increasing the amount of closely matched blood products, the Red Cross is able to help ensure the right blood product is available at the right time for patients facing a sickle cell crisis – minimizing complications for those with rare blood types fighting sickle cell disease
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I am a little offended by the way the story is titled. It is very culturally insensitive in today's current climate. Please explain the usage of words for that title. Black blood donors. Sickle cell research needs blood donors would have been more inclusive.
Sickle cell anemia affects several cultures and to get a good response it should be reflected in the article title.
Did you ACTUALLY read the story?
"The Red Cross asks members of the Black community to join in helping to address this health disparity and meet the needs of patients with sickle cell disease. "
Translation: they have enough donors from other backgrounds. They need Black blood donors. Not culturally insensitive. Factual. To the point. Trying to get Black people to help other Black people. Also, the article doesn't say other cultures ARE NOT affected.
Try READING before making some comment about how you're offended!!!
People find offense with everything these days. Good on you for clarifying that this is not culturally insensitive, but rather a real need and call for Black donors.
Thank you for the reply...people will find anything to make their lives seem relevant even make something innocent like this out of something major
Sadly generations have now been trained to see society and their world thru race. It was never like that until the racists took control of our education system and with the help of the propaganda outlets that spew racism constantly, it's now what we're dealing with today.
Of course she didn't read it. She doesn't have to. It has Black in the title so it's inherently racist.
Yes, I agree and thought the article was clear and informative.
Exactly right
Well said. You are spot on. People should look before they leap or in this case…read the entire article before “unjustly “ criticizing it. Thanks for setting the record straight.
Well said ! #inconvenienttruth UNFORTUNATELY
Maybe if the ARC had said people with African American heritage? But that leads to another question if people with African heritage have other people's genes combined with their own set; does that affect their blood cells ability to help with sickle cell?
Hopefully we can all agree on one thing: if any body needs blood they are most probably in a world of hurt and that the ARC has enough in reserve to save them.
Did YOU actually understand the story yourself Darius?
"Many individuals who are Black have distinct markers on their red blood cells."
Translation: There are regional and racial genetic differences between people in their blood. Not culturally insensitive. Agreed. However, sickle cell anemia is usually a disease inherited from ancestors from a malarial region and not necessarily a race. In America is it overwhelming Black people who have it though.
I agree with you that one should not be offended by the article though. If one wants to help and donate blood or not it is up to them.
We need to stop all the incentivety ,we are all one blood . People need people to help so let's help regardless of color ,race, religion .
I see what you mean. In the world of today....sadly I have to ask.....is Anything Not insensitive? Kudos for expressing yourself.
Maybe because only black prople can get sickle cell!! Maybe you need a shot of feelings. Black Blood Matters
Not true, a white person above has sickle cell too from connections with Africa. Does anyone read all of the comments before responding? Cuz I did!
Are you illiterate or something else? It’s easy, they need donations from specifically BLACK people because BLACK people have specific markers they require. They already have donations from other races but SPECIFICALLY NEED ONES FROM BLACK FOLKS. Understand? Nothing here is offensive. So don’t play that card.
Here we go people are getting offended over the smallest things, get a life and just give blood
Everyone's waking me up w laughs by
turning the blood donation need, into a huge race/venting sesh! Lol
Nice virtue-signaling. Rest east knowing that by expressing your self-righteous feelings, you made a real difference in the United Sta…err….. the WORLD.
Seems to me you are part of the problem when you describe the issue as "insensitive in today's current climate". Today's current climate exists because *everyone* decides they're offended by the slightest things. I don't see anything wrong with the title; perhaps you're part of the problem in "today's current climate".
All the buzz words "in today's current climate". You being "a little offended" by a factual request is your issue. No one is being excluded, therefore everyone is included.
Imagine trying to be so "woke" and getting so offended without knowing the actual reasoning behind the request. I am a member of the Black community and this story caught my attention. I actually READ it to find out how I can help with this health disparity. It's not that they don't want to help other ethnicities. It's that this particular population is lacking resources so they are seeking assistance.
Where do I go to donate blood?
get over yourself stephanie
To the point. Trying to get Black people to help other Black people.
Why did African Americans as a group donate less blood proportionate to their percentage in the total population?
Reasons for underrepresentation
Lower rates of donation in African Americans versus whites may be secondary to decreased donor eligibility, increased donor deferral, different motivators and barriers to donor recruitment, requirement of different marketing strategies and less trust in the health care system (Table 1).
I agree Me Todd in today's culture it should be express differently. They made a poor effort in wording if they needed blood Donor's from the Asian community would they say yellow people?? No!
Darius Thompson, AGREED!! It was accurate, well spelled out and well-intentioned, but in this "CARING" progressive climate we're living in, anything that even mentions culture, race, or other hot buttons is fair game.
Sweet response ; )
Black blood donors needed to help patients with sickle cell disease. Yes, I actually read the story and YES, I also am offended by the title of the story. This actually implies that only blacks get and can help with Sickle Cell Disease. I am of Mediterranean descent and know better, but many people do not read past the title of articles today. The normal attention span of readers is less than 10 seconds to hook a reader into actually buying into an article, thanks to the internet. So, Titles do matter.
As a Black man, I’m not offended by this at all. We need to stop with everything hurting our feelings. Nothing wrong with the headline.
I have been trying to give blood but all appointments are full all the time. I have O+ makes it very hard to donate