PRINTER'S NO.  1042

  

THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA

  

SENATE RESOLUTION

 

No.

89

Session of

2009

  

  

INTRODUCED BY BOSCOLA, PILEGGI, TARTAGLIONE, FONTANA, HUGHES, MUSTO AND PIPPY, MAY 27, 2009

  

  

REFERRED TO EDUCATION, MAY 27, 2009  

  

  

  

A RESOLUTION

  

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Encouraging public and nonpublic schools to instruct the

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students of this Commonwealth on the need for and rewards of

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blood donation and volunteering in local blood donation

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programs.

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WHEREAS, Victims of trauma, surgery patients, organ

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transplant patients, patients receiving treatment for leukemia,

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cancer or other diseases and other individuals require

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transfusions of whole blood and whole blood components; and

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WHEREAS, On average, one person needs blood every three

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seconds; and

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WHEREAS, Approximately 38,000 units of blood are used each

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day in the United States; and

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WHEREAS, In 2001, 15 million units of whole blood and red

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blood cells were donated in the United States while nearly 29

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million units of blood components were used by persons in need;

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and

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WHEREAS, Volunteer blood donors provide nearly all of the

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nation's blood supply for transfusion; and

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WHEREAS, Blood banks frequently run short of types O and B

 


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blood, and shortages of all types of blood occur during the

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summer and winter holidays; and

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WHEREAS, No substitute for human blood currently exists, but

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one unit of donated blood can save the lives of up to three

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people; and

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WHEREAS, While one unit of whole blood may be used for

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transfusion, the same unit of whole blood can be separated into

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several components, including red blood cells, white blood

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cells, plasma, platelets and cryoprecipitated AHF

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(antihemophilic factor), for use by different individuals with

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different needs; and

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WHEREAS, Red blood cells carry oxygen and are used to treat

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anemia, platelets control bleeding and are used to treat

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leukemia and other cancers, and plasma and cryoprecipitated AHF

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are used to control bleeding; and

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WHEREAS, Red blood cells must be used within 42 days or may

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be frozen for up to ten years, platelets must be used within

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five days, and plasma and cryoprecipitated AHF may be frozen and

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used within one year; and

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WHEREAS, Volunteer blood donors cannot contract acquired

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immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) or any other blood disease

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from the blood donation procedure; and

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WHEREAS, More than ten tests, most of which are for

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infectious diseases, are performed on each unit of donated

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blood; and

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WHEREAS, While 60% of the population of the United States

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meets the criteria for blood donation and is eligible, only 5%

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donates blood and blood components; and

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WHEREAS, An adult of average weight has about ten to 12 units

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of blood and may donate whole blood once every eight weeks or 56

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days, and red blood cell donation, called red cell apheresis,

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can be made every 16 weeks; and

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WHEREAS, The time period for blood collection takes

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approximately ten to 20 minutes, with the entire process taking

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about 45 minutes to one hour; and

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WHEREAS, Students in this Commonwealth are our future leaders

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and citizens; and

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WHEREAS, In addition to the general education of this

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Commonwealth's students which is essential to achieving well-

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informed and successful citizens, school-based instruction which

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addresses the need for and benefits of blood donation and

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volunteer blood donors benefits local communities and this

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Commonwealth with an improved donated blood supply and an

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increased level of participation in local blood donation

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programs; and

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WHEREAS, School-based instruction on the personal rewards for

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blood donors and blood donation program volunteers, from

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providing necessary assistance through local blood donation

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programs to individuals with a critical need for blood

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transfusions, benefits blood donors, program volunteers, local

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communities and this Commonwealth; therefore be it

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RESOLVED, That the Senate encourage public and nonpublic

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schools to provide instruction to the students of this

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Commonwealth on the need for and the varied benefits of blood

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donation and to encourage blood donation and participation in

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local blood donation programs.

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