The second International Blood Safety Forum will be held this Friday, March 20, 2015, in Washington D.C. Leading experts from around the world, who understand current trends in blood safety and share the goal of ensuring blood safety at home and abroad, will join together with an intention to improve and increase global participation in blood safety reform worldwide. Global Healing, a leading international medical non-profit, and America’s Blood Centers’ are co-hosting the forum in conjunction with ABC’s annual meeting. Sponsorship will be provided by Helmer Scientific, a leading manufacturer and distributor of laboratory equipment and refrigerated products.
The focus of blood safety is to ensure that everyone has access to a safe and reliable supply of blood at a reasonable cost. Reliable blood systems are crucial for quality healthcare. Safe blood is a necessity in caring for the most vulnerable populations worldwide, but there is still much work to be done to ensure its availability and dependability – particularly in developing countries. Many low-income countries have an endemic prevalence of life threatening infections that are transmitted through the blood supply. Populations of pregnant women and children under the age of five are especially vulnerable to unsafe blood transfusion practices. The forum will focus on “Doing More with Less: Global Lessons in Blood Safety”, and experts from around the world will share their best practices for managing blood products. Bruce King, President of Helmer Scientific, will be contributing to the dialog and will provide insight into industry’s role in supporting the reform in emerging markets.
At Helmer Scientific, we strongly believe in serving unselfishly and working as a team. Standing behind an initiative like this speaks to the core of who we are as a company – collaborating with one another to assist those who need it the most. Over the years we have partnered with Global Healing in setting up blood banks in Dominica, Moldova, Ukraine, Georgia, and Haiti to save lives in the places where safe blood is a luxury.
About Global Healing
Global Healing is a US-registered 501(c)(3) non-profit organization devoted to providing modern medical equipment, supplies and training to the developing world. It was established in 1994, initially to train and equip a team of pediatric cardiology surgeons in Tbilisi, Georgia, to perform the nation’s first ever pediatric open-heart surgery. Global Healing has since started medical programs in Armenia, Honduras, Dominica, Moldova, Nepal, Haiti, and Ukraine. More information can be found at www.globalhealing.org.
About America’s Blood Centers
Founded in 1962, America’s Blood Centers in North America’s largest network of community-based independent blood programs. Recognized by the U.S. Congress for its critical work in patient care and disaster preparedness and response, the federation operates more than 600 blood donor centers providing half of the U.S., and a quarter of the Canadian blood supply.
These blood centers serve more than 150 million people and provide blood products and services to more than 3,500 hospitals and healthcare facilities across North America. America’s Blood Centers’ U.S. members are licensed and regulated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Canadian members are regulated by Health Canada.
About Helmer Scientific
Helmer Scientific is a leading manufacturer and global distributor of laboratory equipment and refrigeration products for the life science industry with a passion to serve its customers in their efforts to improve and save lives. Helmer Global Initiatives (HGI) is a corporate effort of Helmer Scientific to engage individuals and organizations in efforts of generosity at their highest level of capability to provide aid and justice for poor and vulnerable people. For more information please visit www.helmerinc.com.
