Urgent blood need caused by severe weather systems in the US prompts CTSC of Northern Ohio to host its second blood drive in a span of 5 months.
A single blood donation can save up to three lives. The Clinical Translational Science Collaborative (CTSC) of Northern Ohio aims to fill 66 donor spots for its second blood drive on Friday, February 28 from 9 am to 3 pm at ÐÇ¿Õ´«Ã½ in the Biomedical Research Building (BRB) lobby.
The American Red Cross reports that more than 20,000 blood and platelet donations have gone uncollected from the beginning of the new year due to severe weather conditions that have resulted in hundreds of canceled blood drives. Weather systems not only disrupt the supply of blood through blood drives but also affect the delivery of blood and platelet donations to hospitals. As this particularly cold winter season continues it is of critical importance to help the blood supply recover from the shortfall that is vital for life saving treatment in our hospitals.
February 28th is Rare Disease Day, meant to raise awareness and to generate change for the 300 million people worldwide living with a rare disease. A shortage of blood is especially damaging to patients of rare diseases who are in need of blood donations, because donated blood needs to go through additional DNA testing at the blood bank to identify blood that is suitable for these patients’ needs. Plasma donations in particular treat a variety of rare diseases including those that affect the immune system.
The CTSC aspires to positively impact the health of those in Northern Ohio and beyond through high quality clinical science, and transformative research. It leverages community outreach and engagement for clinical trial recruitment, public health awareness and education for the betterment of health outcomes in the Northern Ohio region. Hosting a blood donor drive is just one aspect of fulfilling their mission. For more details on CTSC events and to become a member please .
Members of the ÐÇ¿Õ´«Ã½ community are encouraged to sign up for a time to donate through the. Walk-ins will also be accepted on a first come, first serve basis on the day of the Blood Drive.
Author: Rini Ghosh, MPP, Assistant Director Research Health Equity - CTSC of Northern Ohio