
LifeSouth Community Blood Centers is asking the community to donate blood throughout September in honor of Sickle Cell Awareness Month and to support local patients living with the disease.
Sickle cell disease (SCD) is a genetic blood disorder that is named for the thin, crescent-shaped red blood cells that face more difficulty passing through blood vessels than healthy, disc-shaped red blood cells. Patients with SCD may experience symptoms such as chronic fatigue, recurrent episodes of extreme pain, breathlessness and increased risk of complications such as stroke, liver disease and delayed growth.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that SCD affects nearly 100,000 Americans. People living with SCD often need blood transfusions to increase the amount of healthy red blood cells in their bloodstream and lessen the effects of the sickle-shaped cells.
LifeSouth works with local hospitals to match SCD patients with Sickle Cell Heroes – donors whose red blood cells are precisely matched to reduce complications from blood transfusions. The best matches are likely to be found within a patient’s own ethnic group. Hospital partners include UF Health, HCA Florida North Florida Hospital, and the Malcom Randall VA Medical Center.
In September, LifeSouth blood donors will receive a blood donor 1 T-shirt and as a special benefit LifeSouth is offering complimentary A1c testing to all blood donors, giving donors the chance to learn if they may have pre-diabetes or diabetes, and more about their health.
To find a blood drive or donor center, visit lifesouth.org. In addition to A1c testing, all blood donors receive a mini physical including cholesterol screen, blood pressure, pulse, hemoglobin level and temperature.