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World Blood
Donor Day is June 14
CBC donors can help overcome challenges of summer 2016
DAYTON, Ohio – “Blood Connects Us All” is the theme of 2016 World Blood
Donor Day and Community Blood Center is observing the Tuesday, June 14
celebration by promoting awareness about a summer donation season that
arrives with uncertainties.
“It’s an opportunity to remind the community of all the lives saved
through blood donations, to thank blood donors for their gift of life,
and to encourage people to care for one another,” said CBC Chief
Executive Officer Dr. David Smith. “The community blood supply is
everyone’s concern.”
Smith said the summer of 2016 brings new challenges to maintaining the
regional blood supply that go beyond the seasonal disruptions from high
schools on break, family vacations, travel, and outdoor
activities. New screening restrictions to protect the health of
donors and the safety of the blood supply are having an impact on the
number of people able to donate.
CBC and blood centers across the nation continue to take caution
against the Zika virus. Potential donors who have traveled to Zika
endemic areas in the Caribbean, Mexico and Central or South America are
deferred from donating for 28 days. The restriction is expected to
decrease the number of eligible donors by approximately 2.25 percent.
A change in FDA screening regulations went into effect May 23 to
protect the health of donors. A higher hemoglobin level is now
required for male donors. The 12.5 grams per deciliter (g/dl)
requirement for donating has increased to 13.0 g/dl for males. (The
female requirement remains at 12.5 g/dl).
CBC estimates the new hemoglobin requirement, coupled with stricter
pulse screening requirements that also took effect May 23, could have
an impact of up to six percent in the donor deferral rate.
CBC is encouraging donors to support CBC Donor Centers and mobile blood
drives this summer, especially before the busy July 4 holiday
period. Late June and early July is a time of year when
abbreviated business hours, extra travel, and holiday activities are
disruptive to donation schedules.
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