News and Events

Donors urged to see personal physician

NEWARK, DE - In the first year of Blood Bank of Delmarva's new diabetes screening program, 375 blood donors received important information about their health after they gave blood: they had glucose levels of more than 200. Donors with that result have been urged to contact their physicians for further testing. Of those with elevated glucose levels, 18 blood donors had dangerous levels greater than 400 and four donors were in the critical range above 500. The highest glucose result to date was 598.

Click HERE for the story of a blood donor who had glucose levels in the critical range (530).

"Our glucose testing program is identifying potential diabetics at a rate of more than one per day," said Robert L. Travis, Blood Bank of Delmarva President and CEO. "It has been successful at raising awareness about diabetes and reaching people who are not yet aware they have the disease. We are now conducting a following-up study to see how many donors who had elevated glucose levels have consulted their physicians and how many were diagnosed as diabetic."

Blood Bank of Delmarva began offering blood donors the opportunity to be screened for diabetes in October 2007. It became the first blood banking organization in the country to launch this type of program. The non-fasting blood glucose test is voluntary and offered to donors at no charge. During the first year, 50,647 blood donors were screened, helping identify many people on the Delmarva Peninsula who did not know they have or are at risk for developing diabetes.

Travis conceived the idea for a screening program after hearing a presentation about the diabetes epidemic. He formed a committee of experts from Christiana Care Health System, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Delaware, the American Diabetes Association (ADA), and the Delaware Division of Public Health to help advance the project. The diabetes program is being funded by the Blood Bank and will cost approximately $200,000 for the first two years. That includes equipment, training and ongoing screening costs.

It is expected that results from the BBD diabetes screening program will provide the largest pool of data available from one geographic region.

How it works
The Blood Bank currently conducts 11 tests on every pint of blood as part of its regular testing protocol. This twelfth test - for glucose level - takes place at the same time and at no cost to the donor. Each donor screened is given a confidential online password to enter on the Blood Bank's web site to access their results. Donors with glucose levels above 200 who do not retrieve their result within one week are called by a trained Blood Bank representative. Those with results above 400 are called immediately. During the program's first year, about 60% of the blood donors opted to be screened.

Diabetes Statistics and Information from the American Diabetes Association
Diabetes has reached epidemic proportions in the United States. According to the American Diabetes Association (ADA), more than 20.8 million children and adults in the United States (7% of the population) have diabetes and approximately 6.2 million people are unaware that they have the disease. ADA researchers say about 8% of the population on Delmarva has diabetes, and about one-third do not know it.

In the U.S., the death rate for diabetes is on a dramatic rise, increasing 45% since 1987. It continues to go up while fatalities for other diseases such as heart attack, stroke and cancer decline. Diabetes is the fifth leading cause of death by disease, with more than 400,000 Americans dying from its complications each year. Those can include problems related to the heart, kidneys, eyes, feet, nerves, teeth, and gums. If detected early, diabetes is treatable.

Submitted by Indian River High School:

All schools are invited to participate in a contest to produce a creative, 2 to 3 minute video of students, teachers, and/or parents at your school recruiting for, promoting, and/or participating in the school blood drive. Approved videos will be posted on the Blood Bank's website. The top three videos will be chosen at the end of the school year.

Click HERE to learn more.

WILMINGTON, DE - Blood Bank of Delmarva will be holding an awards luncheon on Wednesday, October 22 from 11:30am to 1:30pm at the Cranston Heights Fire Hall in Wilmington to recognize 35 high schools in New Castle and Cecil Counties for their lifesaving contributions to the 2007-2008 School Blood Drive Program.

Students at those schools contributed 2,690 units of blood last year. Thanks to schools across the Peninsula, a record total of 6,684 donations were collected at 115 school blood drives from September 2007 to May 2008.

The following schools took top honors for the largest number of blood donors:

Cecil County:

First Place - Bohemia Manor High School- 149 donors
Second Place - Rising Sun High School- 117 donors
Third Place - North East High School- 60 donors

New Castle County:

Small schools (less than 100 in senior class):
First Place - Cab Calloway School of the Arts- 51 donors
Second Place - Ursuline Academy- 50 donors
Third Place - Tower Hill School- 48 donors

Mid-size schools (between 101-239 students in senior class):
First Place - TIE: Archmere Academy and St. Elizabeth High School- 71 donors
Second Place - Hodgson Vocational Technical High School- 64 donors
Third Place - Delaware Military Academy- 61 donors

Large schools (between 240-299 students in senior class):
First Place - Charter School of Wilmington- 122 donors
Second Place - Christiana High School- 84 donors
Third Place - Salesianum- 81 donors

Extra-large schools (more than 300 students in senior class):
First Place - William Penn High School- 239 donors
Second Place - Delcastle Technical High School- 206 donors
Third Place - St. Mark's High School- 165 donors

The other participating schools in New Castle and Cecil Counties include: Red Lion Christian Academy- 15 donors; West Nottingham Academy- 26 donors; Wilmington Friends School- 31 donors; Wilmington Christian School- 36 donors; Caravel Academy- 39 donors; Padua Academy- 44 donors; Cecil County School of Technology- 45 donors; St. Andrew's School- 47 donors; John Dickinson High School- 52 donors; Howard High School- 53 donors; Perryville High School- 56 donors; Thomas McKean High School- 58 donors; Mt. Pleasant High School- 61 donors; Newark High School- 68 donors; Alexis I. duPont High School- 76 donors; Concord High School- 78 donors; Glasgow High School- 84 donors; Brandywine High School- 108 donors; and Middletown High School- 145 donors.

"The goal is to attract the most donors - and save lives. William Penn had more blood donors last year than any other high school on Delmarva, and they continue to impress us with their enthusiasm," said Lauren Bacon, Blood Bank school blood drive coordinator. "The competition has been one of the most effective tools we have to attract young people to give blood, and in our eyes all the schools are winners."

PICTURED: 2-year-old John Shannon

Tuesday Shannon, of Newark, Delaware, and her 2-year-old son, John, will be at the luncheon to share their amazing story about his need for blood. John has Diamond Blackfan Anemia (DBA), a rare disease that prevents red blood cells from being produced in the bone marrow. He relies on blood transfusions to survive and has had more than 40 to date.

"Doctors tell me there are only 700 people in the world with DBA. The only cure for the need for regular blood transfusions with the disease is a stem cell transplant," Tuesday said. "A transplant is a possibility in the upcoming five years, but until then, John is able to live his life because of blood donors. I'm really excited to speak with the student donors and thank them."

Renee E. of Milford, DE first started donating blood about a decade ago, when she was 19-years-old.

"I moved away from home when I was 17. A good friend, who I looked up to as a mentor, donated blood and that inspired me to give it a try," Renee said.

While Renee was always proud to be a blood donor, she admitted that she felt a little disconnected from her "faceless" good deed because she never saw where the blood was going. That is... until 2 years ago.

"I was a nursing student and spent a lot of time at a cancer center. It was the most humbling experience of my life to see so many patients relying on blood transfusions to survive," Renee said. "It was a real visual of where blood donations go. It puts a face to the need."

To join Renee and make an appointment to give blood, call 1 888 8-BLOOD-8 or click HERE.

Blood Bank of Delmarva held an awards luncheon to recognize 14 high schools in Dorchester, Somerset, Wicomico and Worcester counties for their lifesaving contributions to the 2007-2008 School Blood Drive Program.

Students at those schools contributed 935 units of blood last year. Thanks to schools across the Peninsula, a record total of 6,684 donations were collected at 115 school blood drives from September 2007 to May 2008.

The following schools took top honors for the largest number of blood donors:

First Place - Parkside High School - 137 donors
Second Place - Pocomoke High School - 118 donors
Third Place - Wicomico High School - 91 donors

The other participating schools include: Salisbury School- 20 donors; Holly Grove Christian School- 44 donors; Mardela High School- 48 donors; Cambridge South Dorchester High School- 48 donors; Washington High School- 50 donors; Stephen Decatur High School- 52 donors; James M. Bennett High School- 58 donors; Salisbury Christian School- 61 donors; North Dorchester High School- 61 donors; Snow Hill High School- 62 donors; and Crisfield High School- 85 donors.

"The goal is to attract the most donors - and save lives. Students do everything from recruiting blood donors to helping on the day of the drive, and it's really encouraging to see the enthusiasm," said Suzanne Murray, Blood Bank school blood drive coordinator. "The competition has been one of the most effective tools we have to attract young people to give blood, and in our eyes, all the schools are winners."

By providing a positive, first-time experience giving blood, the Blood Bank hopes to establish a relationship with young donors that will last a lifetime. Currently less than 7% of all Blood Bank members are under the age of 35.

Deanna Brown, of Laurel, Delaware, was at the luncheon to share her amazing story about the need for blood. Deanna lost her husband Gerry to a 5-year battle with leukemia. In the beginning of his chemotherapy treatments, Gerry needed red blood cell and platelet transfusions every day. Those transfusions helped him live a longer, healthier life than he would have otherwise.

PICTURED: Brown Family, 2006

"My husband is the most courageous person I've ever met," Deanna said. "Even through aggressive chemotherapy and medical treatments, he insisted on using his own illness to help others with leukemia. I will continue to do this now by encouraging all of my friends, family, and co-workers to become frequent blood donors."

PICTURED: Deanna and her son Dale stand next to the tree that they planted in Gerry's memory.

SEE SAMPLE VIDEO!

A contest to produce a creative, 2 to 3 minute video of students, teachers, and/or parents at your school recruiting for, promoting, and/or participating in the school blood drive. Approved videos will be posted on the Blood Bank's website. The top three videos will be chosen at the end of the school year. (Judging and prizes are described below.)

PURPOSE:
This is a fun and interactive way for students to encourage others in their school to give blood at their school blood drive. It should highlight the imaginative ways they recruit for and promote their blood drives and help spread a positive message about the need for blood. This video can be funny or serious. Use your imagination!

CONTENT:
Videos may include, but are not limited to:
- Ways to recruit donors (students and staff) for the blood drive
- How you promote your blood drive
- Inspirational stories of why blood is needed
- Personal stories from students/staff who have needed blood
- Scenes from your actual blood drive

JUDGING CRITERIA:
Blood Bank staff will judge the creativity, appropriateness, and quality of the video, and the effectiveness of your message.

PRIZES:
Cash prizes will be given to the first, second, and third place schools.
- First place- $500
- Second place- $300
- Third place- $200

NEED EDITING HELP?
Many students may be able to edit their videos through their school media department. If not, there are many other free editing websites that can help. Click HERE for the links.

PROCESS:
- Email an electronic file of your video to lbacon@bbd.org or mail a DVD to Lauren Bacon, 100 Hygeia Drive, Newark, DE 19713.
- Approved videos will be posted on the Blood Bank's website under the "Young Blood" section.
- Each school that submits a video will be featured in "Blood Drop" - the school program's E-newsletter.
- All approved videos will be considered for prizes, which will be awarded at the 2009 Awards Luncheons.

DEADLINE:
Deadline for submissions is May 31, 2009.

PLEASE NOTE:
- Submitted videos may also be used in Blood Bank commercials and/or shown at school assemblies and other Blood Bank functions.
- Videos will become the property of Blood Bank of Delmarva.
- Students are urged to seek a faculty advisor for this project and must secure any necessary permissions from persons appearing in the videos, or as may be required by their school or school district.

DOWNLOAD PRINTABLE FLYER FOR STUDENT VIDEO CONTEST.

Blood Bank of Delmarva held an awards luncheon on Thursday, October 9 from 11:30am to 1:30pm at the Georgia House in Milford to recognize 13 high schools in Kent and Sussex counties for their lifesaving contributions to the 2007-2008 School Blood Drive Program.

Barbara Mallory, of Dover, Delaware, was at the luncheon to share her amazing story about the need for blood. Barbara's 2-year-old daughter, Brianna, was diagnosed with JMML, a rare type of juvenile leukemia. At a very early age, Brianna faced many serious treatments, including chemotherapy, radiation, and a bone marrow transplant. To aid in her recovery, Brianna needed weekly red cell and platelet transfusions for nearly 18 months.

PICTURED: Brianna, 2004

"I have been a Blood Bank LifeSaver donor for years and my husband donates platelets. It was a true eye-opener to see the impact of blood donations first-hand," Barbara said. "Even though Brianna lost her life to the disease, blood donors helped my daughter live more comfortably during her treatments and in her final days, and for that I will always be grateful."

Thanks to schools across the Peninsula, a total of 6,684 donations were collected at 115 school blood drives from September 2007 to May 2008 - up more than 5% from the previous school year. By providing a positive first time experience giving blood, the Blood Bank hopes to establish a relationship with young donors that will last a lifetime. Currently less than 7% of all Blood Bank members are under the age of 35.

The School Blood Drive Program provides 8% of the blood supply on Delmarva. The program started in 1984 with just 140 donations at two schools.

When asked why Robert G. of Dover, Delaware has been a loyal LifeSaver donor over the years, the answer was simple. "Because I can," he said.

Robert has grown up with living proof of the importance of blood donations. His identical twin brother was a "blue baby" at birth, meaning he was born with a congenital heart defect that caused an inadequate oxygenation of his blood.

PICTURED: Robert (on right) with his twin brother, Bill

"His blood was toxic and he needed blood transfusions to survive," Robert said. "I'm not a hero. I donate blood because I know it is needed and I want to help other patients with my rare blood type. I've donated about 5 gallons of blood and I don't plan on stopping any time soon."

Robert may not think he's a hero, but the patients on Delmarva would probably disagree.

To make an appointment to donate, call 1 888 8-BLOOD-8 or click HERE.

PICTURED: Robert (on left) with his twin brother, Bill