Commemorate Black History Month by rolling up a sleeve to give blood or platelets. Visit the Rhode Island Blood Center online to schedule a donation time — walk-ins are also welcome!
Diverse donations are critical for patients who require specific blood types for transfusions. Patients with sickle cell disease, an inherited red cell disorder that is most common among African Americans, require very closely matched blood products because their bodies make antibodies directed towards transfused red blood cells. This disease affects over 100 thousand people across the U.S., making a diverse blood supply critical for the region’s overall public health.
