FAIRFIELD—Sacred Heart University will sponsor blood drives over the next few months in conjunction with the Connecticut Blood Center (CTBC) and the American Red Cross of Connecticut to help maintain the region’s supply.
Blood centers across the country have been struggling for nearly three years, according to the CTBC.
“The last few years have been challenging as CTBC faced multiple blood emergencies,” the organization said. “This is part of a national trend, as blood donations have not returned to pre-pandemic levels, but demand for these lifesaving products is up.”
SHU will host blood drives with the CTBC Feb. 8 and 9 and April 6 in its Edgerton Center for the Performing Arts atrium. These drives are open to SHU students, faculty and staff.
The Dr. Susan L. Davis, R.N., & Richard J. Henley College of Nursing (DHCON) and the Student Nurses’ Association (SNA) will team up with the American Red Cross of Connecticut for blood drives Feb. 22, March 13 and April 18. These drives, also held in the Edgerton’s atrium, are open to the public and interested participants can register at the American Red Cross of Connecticut website.
Sacred Heart has organized several successful blood drives in the past to address the need. Those that took place on campus last fall alone, in conjunction with the CTBC, collected enough blood to save 400 lives. The DHCON and SNA, in collaboration with the American Red Cross of Connecticut, collected an additional 129 units of blood.
“We are thankful for the SHU community and their lifesaving efforts through the blood drives. In 2022, the University drives resulted in a remarkable 567 donations, saving up to 1,701 lives,” said Jonathan DeCasanova, CTBC spokesman. “SHU’s continued commitment to support the mission of blood donations on campus makes a positive impact on the local community and patients in need. We look forward to another year of incredible work in blood drive partnership with SHU.”
Twenty-five percent of the nation’s blood supply is used by patients battling cancer, and roughly 1,800 units of blood are used by pediatric patients across the country daily. This is why maintaining a stable blood supply is vital, the CTBC stresses.
“We are grateful for Sacred Heart University’s continued commitment to making a lifesaving difference in our community,” said a representative from the American Red Cross of Connecticut. “A readily available blood supply at hospitals is critical for children fighting cancer, people undergoing surgery, patients living with sickle cell disease and those with traumatic injuries. Through our ongoing partnership, SHU is turning their compassion into action to support the needs of hospital patients.”
