A Small Act with a Life-Saving Impact
Written by: Sophia Gallo
Each year on January 23rd, The University of Saint Joseph partners with The American Red Cross to host their annual blood drive. January 23rd is Mental Health Awareness day and Monika Costa, an associate professor in the nursing department, organizes the event. The goal is to support hospitals caring for postpartum patients and others who are in critical need. The event is not just about donating blood, but also about raising awareness, starting conversations, and taking action to support others during one of the most vulnerable periods of their lives.
As nursing students, we learn in class about postpartum hemorrhage and how dangerous it can be. This potentially life-threatening condition involves excessive bleeding after childbirth and can happen suddenly. It is one of the leading complications after childbirth and must be treated. Ongoing blood shortages across the country and world make access to lifesaving transfusions more challenging than ever, and many patients have little understanding of the seriousness it may cause. Raising awareness and supporting blood donation efforts are critical steps in protecting the lives of new mothers and patients all around.
The event was held in the O’Connell Center from 12:00pm to 5:00pm and many students, faculty, and staff attended to donate. Volunteers helped to educate students and attendees on urgent maternal warning signs and symptoms, as well as explaining Connecticut’s Orange Bracelet Initiative. By continuing to bring awareness, this empowers new mothers to advocate for themselves during the postpartum period and encourages communities to support initiatives like blood donation, which is essential when transfusions are needed. In total, 61 donors participated, each donation representing a potential lifeline for someone in need.
The event was a huge success and could not have been done without the love and support of the USJ community. Seeing the campus come together around this cause was incredibly rewarding, and I am looking forward to attending in the years to come.
More information about Connecticut’s Orange Bracelet Initiative can be found at the link below.
https://cthosp.org/connecticut-urgent-maternal-warning-signs-bracelet-initiative/