42 U.S.C. § 300cc–19 — National blood resource education program

This section requires the Secretary — after consulting the Director of the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute and the Commissioner of Food and Drugs — to set up a program of research and education about blood donation and transfusion. The goal is to keep the blood supply safe and adequate. The education part of the program targets three audiences. (1) For the public and for patients getting treatment, the program must: (A) increase awareness that donating blood is safe; (B) promote the idea that donors are helping meet a national need for a safe blood supply; (C) encourage donors to give blood more than once a year; and (D) encourage repeat donors to recruit new donors. (2) For health professionals, the program must: (A) improve their knowledge, attitudes, and skills around using blood and blood components appropriately; (B) increase their understanding of the risks versus the benefits of blood transfusion; and (C) encourage them to consider alternatives to giving patients blood or blood components. (3) For the community, the program must increase coordination, communication, and collaboration among community groups, professional groups, industry, and government organizations on issues around blood donation and transfusion.