Blood Collectors Week Celebrates Professionals Who Support the Blood Supply
10th Annual Recognition Week Is September 7-13, 2014
September 8, 2014
LAKE ZURICH, Ill. & BETHESDA, Md. -- Every second of every day, blood products are required to help treat patients with a wide variety of medical conditions. Getting blood products to patients in need is the job of blood collectors — they are the link between volunteer blood donors and the patients who count on these life-saving therapies.
Blood collection professionals will be recognized Sept. 7-13, 2014, in communities worldwide as part of the 10th annual Blood Collectors Week. During this week, more than 300 blood centers throughout 11 countries are expected to host celebrations — often with local government officials— to recognize these health care professionals as well as donors.
Blood Collectors Week was co-created and is sponsored by AABB, a not-for-profit association dedicated to advancing transfusion medicine, cellular therapies, and patient blood management, and Fenwal Inc., a Fresenius Kabi Company that specializes in transfusion technologies.
“The full range of clinical professionals — the phlebotomist, the apheresis nurse specialist, the medical director, and the donor recruiter — all serve to realize the maximum benefit of the altruistic act of donors as well as to protect their health and create a positive donor experience,” said Miriam A. Markowitz, AABB CEO. “By sponsoring this week in their honor, AABB wishes to show its support for their outstanding contributions that help ensure blood is available to patients who need transfusions.”
“Blood collection professionals are the connection between blood donors and the life-saving blood therapies patients need every day,” said Dean Gregory, president, Medical Devices for Fresenius Kabi North America. “We’re proud to provide the technologies to help blood collectors do their jobs and we’re very honored to help recognize the volunteers and professionals who support the nation’s blood supply through the activities of the 10th annual Blood Collectors Week.”
Patients typically receive transfusions of red blood cells, platelets or plasma. Red blood cells are the most frequently needed blood component. Blood collectors serve an important role helping individuals select the best donation option based on local blood supply needs, their blood type and donor qualifications. To donate blood, one must be healthy, and meet age, weight and other donor requirements.
Donors are encouraged to honor blood professionals and the patients they serve by contacting their local blood collection facility to schedule an appointment to donate.
Those interested in learning more about blood donation and finding a local blood collection site should visit www.aabb.org. For more information about Blood Collectors Week, visit www.bloodcollectors.org or follow us on twitter @bloodcollectors and #bloodcollectorsweek.
About AABB
AABB is an international, not-for-profit association representing individuals and institutions involved in the field of transfusion medicine, cellular therapies, and patient blood management. The association is committed to improving health by developing and delivering standards, accreditation and educational programs that focus on optimizing patient and donor care and safety. AABB membership consists of nearly 2,000 institutions and 8,000 individuals, including physicians, nurses, scientists, researchers, administrators, medical technologists and other health care providers. Members are located in more than 80 countries. For more information, visit www.aabb.org.
About Fresenius Kabi
Fresenius Kabi (www.fresenius-kabi.us) is a global health care company that specializes in medicines and technologies for infusion, transfusion and clinical nutrition. The company’s products and services are used to help care for critically and chronically ill patients. The company’s U.S. headquarters is in Lake Zurich, Illinois. The company’s global headquarters is in Bad Homburg, Germany. For more information about Fresenius Kabi worldwide, please visit www.fresenius-kabi.com.
Media Contact:
Matt Kuhn
847-550-5751