DeKalb County residents are encouraged to to donate blood to the American Red Cross to help save lives 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 29 at First St. Peter AME Church, 1074 South Indian Creek Drive, according to a press release.
About 100,000 people in the U.S., most of whom are of African descent, are living with sickle cell disease – the most common inherited blood disorder in the country.
“Whether blood is needed for a chronic condition, such as sickle cell disease, a surgical procedure or a large-scale emergency, it’s the blood already on the shelves that helps save lives,” said DeKalb County District 7 Commissioner Lorraine Cochran-Johnson. “A diverse blood supply is needed to help the diverse patients who depend on it.”
Sickle cell disease causes red blood cells to be sticky, hard and crescent-shaped instead of soft and round. This makes it difficult for blood to flow smoothly and carry oxygen to the rest of the body, which may lead to severe pain, tissue and organ damage, acute anemia and strokes.
Blood transfusion helps sickle cell disease patients by increasing the number of normal red blood cells in the body, helping to deliver oxygen and unblock blood vessels. Red blood cells carry markers on their surface called antigens that determine blood type. Some are unique to specific racial and ethnic groups, and because of this, sickle cell disease patients are more likely to find a compatible blood match from a blood donor who is Black.
Information: RedCrossBlood.org or 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767). When you visit RedCrossBlood.org, enter the sponsor code 1STPAME under “Find a Blood Drive.”
