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April is Donate Life Month

April 22, 2009

Communities and organizations across the United States are celebrating the generosity of those who help save lives by becoming organ, tissue, marrow and blood donors.

Carmichael Snyder of Ohio needed blood donors and an organ transplant when his liver failed at age 5.

“National Donate Life Month is a way to honor those who have given so generously of themselves, and to encourage more Americans to follow their example,” says Rodney Wilson, spokesperson for the Central Ohio Blood Services Region of the American Red Cross. “We want to help support the donors and families, as well as the patients who receive their gift of life.”

Nationwide, more than 98,000 people are in need of an organ transplant. Each day, about 77 people get the organ transplant that gives them a second chance at life.Transplant recipients also need blood products during surgery. A liver transplant patient might need up to 10 units of red cells, 20 units of plasma and one unit of platelets; a heart transplant patient up to six units of red cells; and a kidney transplant patient up to two units of red cells.

Donations of blood, marrow and tissue are also vital to saving countless lives, and for improving the quality of life for others who are seriously sick or injured. Every day, patients across the U.S. need an average of 38,000 units of blood.

“You have a lot of power within you to help save lives,” says Wilson. “And you can access that power by simply rolling up your sleeve to donate blood, or by signing up to give in other ways.”

Media contacts

Central Ohio
Blood Services

(614) 253-2740
1-800-338-8086

Rodney J. Wilson
Communications Manager
extension 2347
e-mail

Heather Reichle
Communications Specialist
extension 2275
e-mail

Other Red Cross
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