Blood Drive

Did You Know

• Many with Sickle Cell Disease require frequent blood transfusions
• Blood transfusions are given to manage sudden severe complications
• Blood transfusions may be given to prepare one for surgery
• One may receive blood transfusions monthly to prevent serious complications, such as a stroke
• A major complication of blood transfusions is the development of antibodies
• These antibodies make it very difficult to find compatible blood in the future
• This mismatching can be reduced by using donors from the same family or of the same ethnic background
• Every time you donate you save the lives of 3 people
• Bone Marrow is currently the only cure for Sickle Cell Disease
• Like blood transfusion, the best match is from donor of the same family or ethnic group