Red Cross Launches Initiative to Diversify Blood Donations

As part of National Sickle Cell Awareness Month, the Illinois Medical District (IMD) in Chicago is partnering with the American Red Cross to encourage people from racial and ethnic minorities to donate blood.

The partnership's goal is to increase the organization's blood supply, which is used to treat people with sickle cell disease as well as other conditions.

“Sickle cell disease is an invisible and enduring health disparity in the U.S.,” IMD's interim executive director, Kate Schellinger, said in a press release. “People who donate blood can alleviate the suffering of sickle cell patients and contribute to their long-term health.”

According to the Red Cross, people with sickle cell disease may need to have as many as 100 units of blood each year to treat the complications of the disease.

However, frequent transfusions make it harder to find compatible blood products because sickle cell patients develop an immune response to antigens (native markers) on the surface of donor red blood cells.

Black patients and others from racial and ethnic minorities also often have unique antigens on their red blood cells that are uncommon in White patients. A lack of diversity in donor blood presents major challenges.

Blood Donations Can Help in Emergencies

Every two seconds, someone in the U.S. needs a blood product. Having a steady donor blood supply is critical for treating patients with cancer, surgery and trauma patients, and people experiencing childbirth complications.

The COVID-19 pandemic has placed added stress on blood banks. Centers are experiencing an increased need for blood and a decrease in donations—an imbalance that is further exacerbating the blood shortage.

“As COVID-19 cases increase, blood donations assure that hospitals and patients have continued access to vital blood products,” Schellinger said.

Type O Donors Are Crucial

Hospitals depend on type O blood to help patients in emergencies. Because all other blood types can receive type O blood, people with this type are called universal donors.

Black blood donors can especially play an essential role. Around 51% of Black people have type O blood, while about 45% of White people do.

In a press release, Celena Roldán, the CEO of the American Red Cross Illinois Region, said that the Red Cross is “working with Black community organizations to host blood drives in convenient locations that help bring donation opportunities closer to home."

Community partnerships help ensure closely matched blood products are available for patients with sickle cell disease.

“As an organization dedicated to alleviating suffering, the Red Cross is committed to the health and well-being of all communities,” Roldán said. “Maintaining a diverse blood supply is critical to improving health outcomes for all patients.”