Blue Tag Program

The American Red Cross and Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago developed and created a Cooperative Sickle Cell Donor Program dedicated to meeting the transfusion needs of sickle cell patients.

If you are African American, you are in a special position to help.

Did you know?

• Sickle cell disease affects approximately 70,000 African Americans.
• Some children with sickle cell disease need blood transfusions through the course of a year.
• The best blood for an African-American child usually comes from an African-American donor.

How does the program work?

• Next time you attend a Red Cross blood drive, ask for the Blue Tag to let the Red Cross staff know you are interested in this special sickle cell donor program.
• Your blood will be tested, as is all blood, for type and infectious disease.
• It will also be specially matched for children with sickle cell disease.
• When a child with sickle cell disease needs it, your blood will be used.
• If a child does not need a transfusion at this time, it will be delivered to a patient in need at Lurie Children’s.

Won't you join us and help a child with sickle cell disease? For more information about the Sickle Cell Donor Program or sponsoring a Blue Tag blood drive through an organization or workplace, call the Community Outreach Coordinator at Lurie Children’s, 312-227-4822.

To make an appointment to donate blood, check out the drives below or call the American Red Cross at 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767).