STERIS’ Post

Ordinary Day” #bloodcollectorsweek It’s not every day that you can make a profound impact on a total stranger, but I was able to recently when I donated white blood cells for a patient in need. Not just any patient, but one for whom I was a matching donor. The patient, likely undergoing chemotherapy or a recent transplant, lacks the ability to fight infections. In some cases, it represents the final stages of available treatment. I knew that by the time I sat down for dinner that night, my white cells would already be at the hospital, where a patient, supported by top doctors and nurses would receive a transfusion. A transfusion that could make the difference. For them, it will not be an ordinary day at all, but an extra-ordinary day. And not just one, but another in a series of extraordinary days to follow. This patient’s therapy will likely last for several consecutive days if not more. White cells, once collected, are viable for only 24 hours. So, the procedure will need to be repeated by another matching donor and then another matching donor until the infection is under control. An ordinary day for us, can be an extra ordinary day for someone in need, and by fulfilling it, can make our day extra ordinary as well….

The American Red Cross is experiencing an emergency blood shortage as the nation faces the lowest number of people giving blood in 20 years. The Red Cross blood supply has fallen to critically low levels across the country, and blood and platelet donors are urged to make a donation appointment to help alleviate the shortage and help ensure lifesaving medical procedures are not put on hold. Over the last 20 years, the number of people donating blood to the Red Cross has fallen by about 40%. When fewer people donate blood, even small disruptions to blood donations – such as the nearly 7,000-unit shortfall in blood donations the Red Cross experienced between Christmas and New Year’s Day alone – can have a huge impact on the availability of blood products and dramatic consequences for those in need of emergency blood transfusion. Blood products are currently going to hospitals faster than blood donations are coming in, and in recent weeks, the Red Cross has had to limit distributions of type O blood products – among the most transfused blood types – to hospitals. Small changes in blood donor turnout can have a huge impact on the availability of blood products and dramatic consequences for those in need of an emergency blood transfusion. Donors of all types – especially those with type O blood and those giving platelets – are urged to give now. Don’t wait – to make an appointment, download the Red Cross Blood Donor App, visit RedCrossBlood.org or call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767). The Red Cross and the National Football League (NFL) are partnering this January, during National Blood Donor Month, to urge individuals to give blood or platelets and help tackle the emergency blood shortage. Those who come to give blood, platelets or plasma in January will automatically be entered for a chance to win a trip for two to Super Bowl LVIII in Las Vegas. For details, visit https://lnkd.in/eHArF35

Did you know that September is National Sickle Cell Awareness Month in the US? 🩸 Sickle cell disease (SCD) is an inherited blood disorder in which red blood cells may become sickle-shaped and harden. This causes complications including chronic severe and unpredictable pain, anemia, swelling, fatigue. SCD is not contagious, but there is no universal cure. An estimated 100,000 people in the US live with the disease. People with SCD can live full lives, and blood transfusions are one of the most critical treatments for patients. Once again, donations can truly make a difference—especially while the American Red Cross has declared an emergency blood shortage after its national blood inventory plummeted more than 25% in July. Learn more at https://lnkd.in/eHuJhD6

The American Red Cross is experiencing an emergency blood shortage as the nation faces the lowest number of people giving blood in 20 years. The Red Cross blood supply has fallen to critically low levels across the country, and blood and platelet donors are urged to make a donation appointment to help alleviate the shortage and help ensure lifesaving medical procedures are not put on hold. Over the last 20 years, the number of people donating blood to the Red Cross has fallen by about 40%. When fewer people donate blood, even small disruptions to blood donations – such as the nearly 7,000-unit shortfall in blood donations the Red Cross experienced between Christmas and New Year’s Day alone – can have a huge impact on the availability of blood products and dramatic consequences for those in need of emergency blood transfusion. Blood products are currently going to hospitals faster than blood donations are coming in, and in recent weeks, the Red Cross has had to limit distributions of type O blood products – among the most transfused blood types – to hospitals. Small changes in blood donor turnout can have a huge impact on the availability of blood products and dramatic consequences for those in need of an emergency blood transfusion. Donors of all types – especially those with type O blood and those giving platelets – are urged to give now. Don’t wait – to make an appointment, download the Red Cross Blood Donor App, visit RedCrossBlood.org or call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767). The Red Cross and the National Football League (NFL) are partnering this January, during National Blood Donor Month, to urge individuals to give blood or platelets and help tackle the emergency blood shortage. Those who come to give blood, platelets or plasma in January will automatically be entered for a chance to win a trip for two to Super Bowl LVIII in Las Vegas. For details, visit https://lnkd.in/eHArF35

A week ago, the Peggy Lillis Foundation gathered in DC for a summit to hear lectures and the latest in treatments (or lack there of) for the Antibiotic Resistant Infection and highly contagious and deadly C. Diff. It is considered by CDC as one of the 5 most urgent threats to our health. By 2050, 10 million deaths annually will be caused by Antibiotic Resistant Bacteria, equal only to cancer. The second day of our mission was to meet with our Representatives and Senators and present them with proposed legislation (which, as it should, has many bipartisan commitments). After many years of doing this work, I am beginning to feel hopeful. They are listening. We are joined by the most brilliant and compassionate Infectious Disease and Gastrointestinal physicians and researchers, committed Regulatory professionals and lawyers, experienced lobbyists, and C. Diff survivors. We are bound by shared horrors and an interminable drive to ensure this stops yesterday. What can you to support us ensure the health of you and your family? Donate to the PLF non-profit organization, wash your hands all the time, do not seek or demand antibiotics for viral bugs and give your body a chance to do what is designed to do by utilizing its immune system. If you do truly need an antibiotic, speak with your provider about the most narrowly targeted abx to do the job. I will post more photos and the link to our 8 hours of lectures and panel discussions. A little heavy on the science if you’re not used to it…….but if you’re just dying to see my panel and the final panel of some members of my survivor family …start around hour 6 ish.

As we transition to spring, the American Red Cross urges donors to give blood or platelets now to continue to strengthen the national blood supply. People of all blood types – especially those with type O blood – are critical to ensuring hospitals can meet the daily demand for lifesaving transfusions. In recent weeks, the Red Cross has seen an encouraging increase in the collection of blood products, but blood and platelet donation appointments remain vital to ensure hospital shelves can be replenished as soon as possible. Every two seconds, someone in the U.S. needs a blood transfusion. In fact, 1 in 7 patients entering a hospital will need a blood transfusion. A sufficient blood supply is critical to being able to provide timely care for all patients relying on lifesaving blood products. It's the blood on the shelves that helps in times of emergency. Join us to turn your compassion into action. Book a time to give blood or platelets by using the Red Cross Blood Donor App, visiting RedCrossBlood.org or calling 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767).

Thank you for posting Mark Miller... Please repost to improve the awareness of #sepsis and #septicshock. From the World Health Organization: ~ A recent scientific publication estimated that in 2017 there were 48.9 million cases and 11 million sepsis-related deaths worldwide, which accounted for almost 20% of all global deaths (1). ~ In 2017, almost half of all global sepsis cases occurred among children, with an estimated 20 million cases and 2.9 million global deaths in children under 5 years of age (1). ~Regional disparities in sepsis incidence and mortality exist; approximately 85% of sepsis cases and sepsis-related deaths worldwide occurred in low- and middle-income countries (1). ~ Health care-associated infections are one of the most frequent types of adverse event to occur during care delivery and affect hundreds of millions of patients worldwide every year. Sepsis Alliance Centers for Disease Control and Prevention The National Institutes of Health #publichealth #antimicrobialresistance #influenza #covid19

Great lessons learned on prehospital whole blood utilization.

Wound care isn't just about healing. It's about preventing infection, saving limbs, and improving lives. Our latest blog post breaks down the essentials of wound management for hospitals and wound centers. Learn how a tailored approach to wound care can make all the difference. Read more to discover how expert care can transform patient outcomes. Read blog 👉 https://lnkd.in/dHmDh_UU #WoundCare

What do we purchase as part of the Bloody Mary campaign? When we say we're creating a blood-warming setup, we mean a systematic approach to how we store blood, administer it to the patient, and what to do next. The equipment we purchase is designed to support every step of the transfusion process: 🩸 In the refrigerators that we buy, blood is stored while medics await the wounded. The heating function in these refrigerators ensures that, upon the first call for an incoming wounded person, the blood would start to warm up. 🩸 In addition to refrigerators, we often buy inverters so that the refrigerators receive uninterrupted power - because the preservation of blood depends on it. 🩸 Moving on, infusion warmers elevate the temperature to the required level and serve as some kind of thermometer, ensuring the temperature of the blood for medics when it is administered to the patient. 🩸 All patients with blood loss are suffering from hypothermia, meaning they get extremely cold. Therefore, we send medics heated mattresses to warm patients from below. 🩸 Similarly, from above, one must wrap them in thermal blankets and blow warm air onto them with heating system blowers (these things like elephant trunks that are developed for warm air delivery). 🙃 In this video we skipped consumables - Eldoncards and infection tests, but they usually are also an essential part of the setup - determining blood types and checking for infections in case of direct transfusion. There are still many stabilization points where such setups are absent. We continuously reduce the number of stabilisation points, but with your support, it will happen faster: https://lnkd.in/e5y5XfAd