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Sickle Cell Awareness Month: How the American Red Cross Mission is Meeting the Need
September is National Sickle Cell Awareness Month, a time dedicated to raising awareness about sickle cell disease and its devastating impact on individuals and families. While sickle cell disease is the most common genetic blood disease in the U.S., occurring in 1 in 365 Black or African American births, limited healthcare resources have historically been available to support those affected.
Articles
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Young Apheresis Platelet Donors Give Hope To The Resiliency Of The US Platelet Supply
Summary provided by Dr. Baia Lasky Platelet demand continues to increase (1) and U.S. hospitals face frequent shortages (2). Between 2010 and 2019, the American Red Cross’ (ARC) platelet distributions increased by 16.6% (778,775 to 907,851 units); therefore, a reliable and sustainable apheresis platelet donor (APD) base is essential to support patient care. . During…
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The Role of Histocompatibility Laboratory Services at the American Red Cross in Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation
Clara Barton established the American Red Cross in 1881 with the primary objective of providing emergency assistance and disaster relief to people in the United States. The organization later grew into one of the largest charitable and nonprofit organizations, expanding its reach into blood product supply, cellular therapies, and tissue services. Leaders had the foresight…
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Motivating Donors: Lessons from Collecting COVID-19 Convalescent Plasma
Early in the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, many blood centers began collecting and distributing COVID-19 convalescent plasma (CCP). Researchers from the American Red Cross conducted a survey of CCP donors during the first five months of the CCP collection period (April 27-September 15, 2020) to gather information about their donation experience and motivations. Read about their findings…
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The Home Fire Campaign: Prevention is the Best Medicine
October 14, 2022. North Las Vegas, Nevada. Cherise Coleman and her family escaped a fire unharmed at their North Las Vegas home in September 2022, thanks to free smoke alarms installed a few years earlier by American Red Cross volunteers, including Eva Stowers (left). Few disasters cause as much harm to people and their homes…
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Published by the American Red Cross, Plus Online features leading research and trending topics related to transfusion medicine. By promoting innovation within the field and leveraging the insight from our authors and thought leaders, we provide a resource that helps you continue your education and support best patient care.