America's Blood Centers

We are proud to congratulate Dr. Daniela Hermelin, the Chief Medical Officer at ABC member ImpactLife, on her appointment to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)' Advisory Committee on Blood and Tissue Safety and Availability! As a member of the committee, Dr. Hermelin will play a pivotal role in advising the Secretary of Health and Human Services on crucial policy matters related to blood, blood products, and tissues, ultimately enhancing safety and accessibility for patients and donors across the nation. This appointment underscores the essential contributions made by ABC members in shaping policies that positively impact the future of healthcare. Join us in congratulating Dr. Hermelin!

Pre-hospital blood transfusions are saving lives in South Florida! Broward Sheriff's Office Fire Rescue started providing blood transfusions to patients on site the trauma events in 2019. Lieutenant Steve Krivjanick calls it the most impactful thing he's seen in his 20-year career. "These are patients that wouldn't make the parking lot of the ER five years ago. Now they're making it to the hospital," he said. Now, he wants to see pre-hospital blood transfusions become commonplace in communities nationwide. Significant barriers stand in the way of making that happen, including inadequate Medicare payments for blood used by Emergency Medical Services providers and inconsistent care due to differing state-based scope of practice requirements. But Congress can do something about it. Ask your members of Congress to make long-term reforms that would allow more patients to receive life-saving blood products before reaching a hospital: https://bit.ly/3zoaDHj #BloodAdvocacy

Did you know that recent eligibility changes allow more #LGBTQ individuals, especially gay and bisexual men, to donate blood? The FDA's updated guidelines remove deferrals based on sexual orientation for blood donor eligibility, marking a significant step forward in promoting blood donation equality while maintaining the safety of the blood supply. We’ve teamed up with GLAAD to launch the Summer of Giving campaign to promote this new era of eligibility. Contact your local community blood center to check your eligibility, make an appointment to give blood, and help save lives today! #summerofgiving

There’s still time to register for today’s event! Don’t miss out on this opportunity to sharpen your leadership skills, broaden your perspectives, and equip yourself and your teams for what lies ahead! Not a WELC member yet? Find out more and join today: https://bit.ly/3Qd1eZI

Join the ABC Women’s Executive Leadership Community (WELC) for our upcoming virtual event on July 17, 2024, at 3:00 pm ET - “Lessons in Leadership – A View from the Top." During the event, we’ll step into the minds of three prominent CEOs as they delve into their remarkable leadership journeys. Having experienced nearly every role within a blood center during their careers, these blood community leaders will discuss invaluable lessons learned from navigating the complexities of leadership, inspiring and managing teams, and adapting to and embracing change.   Don’t miss this opportunity to gain tips and techniques to enhance your leadership skills, expand your perspective, and prepare yourself and your teams for the challenges and opportunities ahead! Not yet a member of WELC? Learn more and become a member today: https://bit.ly/3Qd1eZI  

A milestone moment took place in North Carolina where Kody Kinsley, the state’s out gay Health and Human Services Secretary, participated in our “Summer of Giving” blood drive campaign with GLAAD! This campaign aims to advocate and educate on the new FDA guidance that expands blood donor eligibility to more #lgbtqia individuals, especially gay and bisexual men. Secretary Kinsley's donation is a testament to the lifesaving potential of this change. Learn more about this donation at ABC member The Blood Connection and the Summer of Giving campaign: https://bit.ly/4eZ4How

🩸☀️The summer months pose unique challenges to our nation's blood supply. From fierce storms to summer breaks, various factors can impact blood collection. Find out more about these challenges and why the need for blood donations never takes a vacation: https://bit.ly/3Lpdxhy

Join us this summer in giving the gift of life! Did you know that during the summer months, blood donations drop significantly due to travel and school breaks? We're proud to partner with GLAAD for the Summer of Giving national blood drive campaign! Together, we're working to encourage more LGBTQ individuals and allies to donate blood, now that sexual orientation is no longer a barrier for eligibility under updated FDA guidelines. This means more lives can be saved, and you can be a part of that positive change. Reach out to your local community blood center to check your eligibility and schedule an appointment today. Let's make a difference together - donate with pride and help save lives this summer! https://bit.ly/3y1qgUF #SummerOfGiving #DonateWithPride #SaveLives

We were proud to recognize the outstanding efforts of HOSA chapters and chartered associations for their incredible work in blood collection at the 2024 International Leadership Conference in Houston! Together with community blood centers, more than 33,000 donors and 30,000 units of blood were collected this academic year, saving many lives. HOSA students achieved an impressive 43% increase in total donations compared to the previous year, demonstrating their unwavering commitment to giving back and strengthening the nation’s blood supply. At the event, Gulf Coast Regional Blood Center collected over 384 units of blood in just three days. We congratulate to all the dedicated HOSA members, chapters, and chartered associations for their efforts and look forward to what we achieve together next! https://bit.ly/3RTYUGG

Thanks to a partnership with our member LifeSouth Community Blood Centers, Jason Croom, an EMS lieutenant with The Villages Public Safety Department, recently became the first local ground responder in the community to administer a blood transfusion to a patient before reaching the closest trauma center! This milestone will help save lives. Learn more here: https://bit.ly/4cBgBmy The facts are clear: the faster a patient receives necessary care, the more likely they are to survive. One study found up to 5% increased odds of mortality for every minute of delay in access to blood. That’s why pre-hospital blood transfusion programs have been endorsed by a variety of national trauma and first responder organizations, including the American College of Surgeons, American College of Emergency Physicians, International Association of EMS Chiefs (IAEMSC), and National Association of EMS Physicians (NAEMSP). Significant barriers stand in the way of expanding pre-hospital blood nationwide, including inadequate Medicare payments for blood used by Emergency Medical Services providers and inconsistent care due to differing state-based scope of practice requirements. But Congress can do something about it. Ask your members of Congress to make long-term reforms that would allow more patients to receive life-saving blood products before reaching a hospital: https://bit.ly/3zoaDHj #BloodAdvocacy