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Diverse blood donors needed

February 21, 2025

For Black History Month, Hartford HealthCare and the American Red Cross are partnering to raise awareness about sickle cell disease and the need for diverse blood donors. Sickle cell affects mainly people of African and Latin descent. Expanding the pool of blood donors helps to better meet the needs of patients.

Donating blood is a simple way to help people battling sickle cell disease. Consider the following related blood facts:

• Blood type, like eye color, is an inherited trait passed by parents. More than 50% of people of African or Latino descent have type O blood, which is in high demand by hospitals and often in low supply.
• A person with type O blood can only receive type O blood. So as the nation becomes more diverse, the need for type O blood increases.
• One in three African American blood donors are a match for people with sickle cell disease.

Blood and platelet donations are vital in supporting patients with sickle disease undergoing gene therapies, stem cell transplants and those in need of regular blood transfusions to alleviate pain and help manage their disease.