Growing and diversifying America’s donor base and ensuring the long-term resilience of the nation's blood supply takes everyone.
Join this collaboration to advance policies that promote the value of blood to patients, communities, and our healthcare system.
About Blood Advocacy Week
Blood Advocacy Week is a new initiative of America’s Blood Centers that will bring together members of the blood community, legislators, agency decisionmakers, advocates, providers, patients, and more to learn about and advance policies that promote the value of blood to patients, communities, and our healthcare system.
Thank you to our sponsors
Thank you to our sponsors, who make Blood Advocacy week possible. To learn how to become a sponsor, click here and contact us today.
Our goals
Monday, April 24th
A Call to Action: Analyzing Trends Impacting the Nation’s Blood Supply and What Must Change Moving Forward
Join us to hear the current status of the nation’s blood supply and trends impacting the collection and utilization of blood. Speakers will include representatives from federal agencies, the blood community, the research community, and more.
Tuesday, April 25th
Welcome Blood Donors: Promoting Awareness of New Eligibility Criteria
Join a robust group of stakeholders to discuss recent FDA donor deferral changes that impact hundreds of thousands of individuals previously deferred from donating blood. Learn about federal policy efforts to promote awareness and education about the new eligibility requirements as well as community approaches to welcome these donors.
Wednesday, April 26th
Day on Capitol Hill (Virtual)
To ensure blood continues to be available for all patients in need, increased diversity - racial, ethnic, and age – is needed among blood donors. Hear patient stories to understand why blood donor diversity matters and work in Congress to address this critical need.
Thursday, April 27th
When Time Matters: Saving and Enhancing Lives Through Access to Blood
Studies have shown that thousands of lives can be saved and improved each year through early and increased access to blood, including in the pre-hospital and hospice settings. Learn more about how reimbursement and scope of practice must be changed to ensure access to blood for all.
Friday, April 28th
It’s About Life: Why Donor Diversity is Critical to Patient Care
To ensure blood continues to be available for all patients in need, increased diversity - racial, ethnic, and age – is needed among blood donors. Hear patient stories to understand why blood donor diversity matters and work in Congress to address this critical need.
Each day will feature
In their own words: the importance of blood
“I truly believe in my mind that early blood transfusions made a difference in me being alive and here today. If I didn’t receive blood that quickly, my thought is that I wouldn’t have made it." Scott, Pleasanton, Texas resident who severed nerves, muscles, tendons and blood vessels during a home improvement accident.
"They pulled me out of my back window, got me into the ambulance, hooked me up to the whole blood, and as soon as the whole blood went through, I woke up," said Tiffany, a Texas resident who needed a blood transfusion following a car accident.
“We’re forever grateful to the people who saved my life, and I hope my story will let people know how important donating blood is to saving lives," said Mayah Zamora, 10-year-old survivor of the Uvalde school shooting.
“But no matter how difficult it got or how bad the pain was, the one thing that I could count on to help me recover quickly and bounce back was a blood transfusion,” said James Griffin, who relies on blood transfusions to treat Sickle Cell disease.
“If we don’t get blood, something bad could happen. Donating blood is doing something good for others,” said Breanna Steele, who relies on blood transfusions to treat Sickle Cell disease.
Join us in this week
Connect online
Use the hashtags #BloodAdvocacy and #WhyBlood