September is Sickle Cell Disease Awareness Month

Published by Kirby Winn on Wednesday, September 18, 2024 in News Releases

ImpactLife joins health care and advocacy organizations across the country in recognizing September as Sickle Cell Disease Awareness Month. The annual observance helps raise awareness about this inherited blood disorder and the importance of supporting patients in crisis. 

Sickle cell disease is characterized by abnormal red blood cells that can become rigid and crescent-shaped, causing blockages in blood vessels and reducing the flow of oxygen throughout the body. This can lead to severe pain episodes known as sickle cell crises, which require immediate medical attention. Blood transfusions are often a critical component of the treatment for patients experiencing a sickle cell crisis.

Shyneeta "Shy" Rush, Supervisor, Donor Services, with ImpactLife saw how Sickle Cell Disease affected the lives of close family members and is now taking action to bring more blood donors to the cause.

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Sickle cell disease affects millions of people worldwide, particularly those of African, Latino, Mediterranean, Middle Eastern, and Indian descent. In the United States alone, it is estimated that approximately 100,000 individuals are living with this condition.

During a sickle cell crisis, the body's demand for healthy red blood cells increases significantly. Blood transfusions provide patients with healthy red blood cells, improving oxygen delivery and relieving pain.

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To help recruit additional blood donors to the cause, ImpactLife is providing an updated Sickle Cell Disease awareness donor recruitment toolkit, available at www.bloodcenter.org/sickle. The toolkit features infographics and images for social media, facts about sickle cell disease, email headers, and links to help learn more about sickle cell disease and how to help patients in need.

Stronger Together: Red4Life program helps identify more donors who can help
ImpactLife developed its Red4Life program to increase the number of appropriately matched donations available for SCD patients. Because these patients rely on frequent blood transfusions, often every month, to help manage their disease, donations must be matched in more detail than for many other patients.

Under the Red4Life program, donors whose blood is tested and identified as an appropriate antigen match for patients with SCD are invited to become a Red4Life donor. After making their fourth donation each year, Red4Life donors will receive an additional 800 points to use in the ImpactLife Donor Loyalty Store.

Shy Rush and her colleagues hope to welcome additional new donors to the cause by raising awareness and motivating action.

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AABB News feature article on Red4Life (.pdf)

To schedule appointments for donation, please call (800) 747-5401, schedule online at www.bloodcenter.org, or by using the blood center’s mobile app (www.bloodcenter.org/app).

ImpactLife Donor Rewards: September 9-30
Through the end of September, all presenting donors will receive a voucher to redeem for an electronic gift card, bonus points to use in the Donor Rewards Store, or an equivalent value donation to Make-A-Wish chapters in Illinois, Iowa, Missouri, and Wisconsin (see www.bloodcenter.org/goodgiving). The value of each depends on the donor's planned donation procedure and location.

• WHOLE BLOOD (MOBILE BLOOD DRIVES) - $20 gift card OR donation OR 1,000 points
• NEW: WHOLE BLOOD (DONOR CENTERS) - $30 gift card or donation OR 2,000 points
• DOUBLE REDS & PLASMA ONLY (MOBILE BLOOD DRIVES) - $25 gift card OR donation OR 1,500 points
• NEW: DOUBLE REDS (DONOR CENTERS) - $35 gift card or donation OR 2,500 points
• NEW: 3+ TIME PLATELETS (ALL LOCATIONS) - $35 gift card OR donation or 2,500 points
• NEW: 1st & 2nd TIME PLATELETS (ALL LOCATIONS) - $60 gift card OR donation OR 5,000 points

To learn more about ImpactLife donor promotions, see www.bloodcenter.org/now. 

About ImpactLife
ImpactLife's mission is to save lives by engaging donors, supporting partners, and advancing medicine. Founded in 1974, ImpactLife supplies blood products and services to hundreds of hospitals, emergency services organizations, clinical researchers, and other blood centers throughout Iowa, Illinois, Wisconsin, and Missouri. The nonprofit blood provider is ranked among the leading 12 blood suppliers in the United States by collection volume. For more information on current blood inventory levels, our donor promotions, and more, see www.bloodcenter.org and find us @impactlifeblood on Facebook, X, Instagram, YouTube, and LinkedIn.

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