ABBOTT PARK, Ill., Aug. 15, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Blood transfusion is a life-saving treatment that helps save millions of lives every year. The need for blood is great: Approximately every two seconds, someone in the United States (U.S.) requires a blood transfusion.1,2 However, despite nearly 40 percent of the U.S. population being eligible to donate blood, less than 10 percent does so annually.3 Often this means that hospitals and clinics face the challenge of providing enough blood to patients.1,2 To help address this need, Abbott is partnering with the non-profit organization Music Saves Lives® to encourage young adults to consider becoming life-long donors.
"The demand for blood persists even as the repeat donor population continues to decrease," said Brian Blaser, executive vice president, Diagnostics Products, Abbott. "Abbott has joined forces with Music Saves Lives to encourage young people to become donors to help make sure that we have an ample blood supply for many years to come."
Abbott and Music Saves Lives are launching the Very Important Donor (VID) Club to use music as a means to encourage involvement in the blood donation process. Through social media platforms -- including Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter -- members will learn more about the musicians who support the effort to engage life-long donors and how these donations impact people's lives. To learn more about upcoming Music Saves Lives blood drives in cities across the U.S., visit the Music Saves Lives website, www.musicsaveslives.org.
"To work hand-in-hand with a like-minded organization such as Abbott allows us to advance our mission and share our message with more people," said Russel Hornbeek, founder and president, Music Saves Lives. "Together, we will empower and create the next life-saving generation."
Abbott and Music Saves Lives will launch their partnership in conjunction with the upcoming MusicfestNW, September 3-8, 2013, in Portland, Ore. To learn more about upcoming Music Saves Lives blood drives affiliated with MusicfestNW, visit the Pacific Northwest American Red Cross website, www.redcrossblood.org/pnw, and click on the "What's Happening" link or visit the Music Saves Lives website, www.musicsaveslives.org. Donors may redeem vouchers for backstage access to special band signings and other giveaways during MusicfestNW.
To learn more about the importance of donating blood, please click here.
About Music Saves Lives
Music Saves Lives® is a 501(c)(3) organization with the mission to educate about important life-saving causes and to use all forms of music and entertainment to motivate and deliver this message. Music Saves Lives started its mission to educate youth about the importance of blood donation and the bone marrow registry, encouraging participation and commitment to action in a life-saving way. These simple commitments all connect back to strengthening the community. Visit www.musicsaveslives.org to learn more.
About Abbott's Commitment to Blood Screening
Abbott is a global leader in in vitro diagnostics and offers a broad range of innovative instrument systems and tests for hospitals, reference labs, molecular labs, blood banks, physician offices and clinics. With a more than 40-year commitment to continuous improvements to blood screening technologies, Abbott is a leader in helping to ensure the safety of the world's blood supply and is dedicated to advancing the science of blood transfusion.
About Abbott
Abbott (NYSE: ABT) is a global healthcare company devoted to improving life through the development of products and technologies that span the breadth of healthcare. With a portfolio of leading, science-based offerings in diagnostics, medical devices, nutritionals and branded generic pharmaceuticals, Abbott serves people in more than 150 countries and employs approximately 70,000 people.
Visit Abbott at www.abbott.com and connect with us on Twitter at @AbbottNews.
1 Blood facts and statistics. American Red Cross. Website: www.redcrossblood.org/learn-about-blood/blood-facts-and-statistics. Accessed July 5, 2013.
2 Facts and figures. America's Blood Centers. Website: http://www.americasblood.org/about-blood/facts-figures.aspx. Accessed August 6, 2013.
3 Blood FAQ. American Association of Blood Banks (AABB). Website: http://www.aabb.org/resources/bct/pages/bloodfaq.aspx. Accessed August 2, 2013.
SOURCE Abbott