People Need People
Over 5O% of individuals in communities of color have type O blood? Roughly 53% of the Black/African American community and over 56% of Hispanic/Latinx community have O type blood.
Type O blood is routinely in short supply and high demand, because O+ blood can be given to any other positive blood type, while O- blood can be given to patients of ANY blood type
Therefore, it’s critically important that we have a diverse donor community to meet the increasing need for transfusion patients across Central Texas. That means BIPOC donors are essential to meeting the needs of patients in our area.
National Minority Donor Awareness Month
August is National Minority Donor Awareness Month. It is a time to celebrate our blood donors from diverse communities and call more to action, ensuring equitable access for blood transfusions for ALL patients.
Blood transfusions are needed for patients of all races and ethnicities. Patients also experience better results when they receive blood from someone of a similar genetic background. This is primarily due to genetic qualities called antigens that are distinct to different populations. Learn more about this in our other minority donor awareness blog.
Make a World of Difference
At We Are Blood, we strive to create accessible and welcoming environments for our donors; and we aim to foster an inclusive blood donor community that reflects the vibrant and diverse community we serve.
This August, we encourage and invite our communities of color to come out and donate with us at one of our four local donor centers or mobile drives. Your blood donation could make a world of difference to a patient in need.
To learn about the vital role diverse blood donors play in saving lives, visit America’s Blood Centers site for more information.