“AABB joins the health care community in recognizing July as National Cord Blood Awareness Month.

Despite its life-saving potential, most umbilical cord blood — and the hematopoietic stem cells it contains — is still discarded as medical waste in the United States. Cord Blood Awareness Month aims to raise awareness about the importance of saving and storing cord blood.

Throughout July, AABB will share educational resources and social media graphics to highlight cord blood’s life-changing role in stem cell transplants and cellular therapies.”

Association for the Advancement of Blood and Biotherapies – AABB (July is National Cord Blood Awareness Month)

Cord Blood Awareness Month  is July

The Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion designates specific National Health Observances (NHO) dedicated to raising awareness about important health topics. Towards this goal, July has been declared “Cord Blood Awareness Month.” Although people benefit from cord blood banking every day, this NHO provides a special opportunity to highlight the significant contributions made through stem cell research, trials, and treatment.

Treatments

Stem cells are at the forefront of one of the most fascinating and revolutionary areas of biology today. To date, there are more than 80 diseases being treated with umbilical cord blood and tissue. The list of diseases that are treatable with cord blood include stem cell disorders, acute and chronic forms of leukemia, myeloproliferative disorders, and many more.

Clinical Trials

With a very promising future, clinical trials using cord blood stem cells are being conducted for neurological, cardiovascular, and auto-immune disorders. Some of the common diseases that have clinical trials in Phase 1 and Phase 2 include autism, cerebral palsy, and diabetes. There are also promising clinical trials for acquired hearing loss, pre-/peri-natal stroke, and traumatic brain injury.

Cord Blood Banking

Cord blood banking provides a simple process of safely and securely storing the blood within your child’s umbilical cord, as well as the tissue from the cord itself. Parents have the option of banking their baby’s cord blood with a public cord blood bank or a private cord blood bank.

Public cord blood banking is free and will provide life-saving benefits to a family in need. Once you donate your cord blood, however, you no longer have rights to those stem cells. If your child or family member is in need of cord blood stem cells, there is no guarantee that you or children can use their own cells. With private cord blood banking, there are fees but you own the cells. Your full rights to use it are preserved, and it is always immediately available to you.

A Perfect Match

One of the key benefits of using a private cord blood bank is the ability to provide a perfect match, since your child will be getting their own cells. Cord blood banking is especially vital for minorities and those of mixed race, where matching can be difficult using other stem cells from bone marrow or circulatory blood. Certain diseases also either depend upon, or greatly benefit from, using your own (autologous) cells. Luckily, it is easy to bank umbilical cord blood with New England Cord Blood Bank during Cord Blood Awareness Month and all year round.

“Every July, Cord Blood Awareness Month shines a spotlight on one of the most powerful yet often overlooked medical resources: cord blood. Collected from a newborn’s umbilical cord shortly after birth, cord blood is rich in hematopoietic stem cells—the building blocks of blood and immune systems. These stem cells have the unique ability to develop into red and white blood cells and platelets, and they’re already being used to treat more than 80 serious and life-threatening conditions, including leukemia, lymphoma, sickle cell anemia, and certain metabolic and immune disorders.”

Fetal Health Foundation (Cord Blood Awareness Month: One Decision Could Save a Life)

July is National Cord Blood Awareness Month, and it’s the perfect time to learn more about cord blood—a biological product regulated by the Food and Drug Administration. Found in the blood vessels of the placenta and the umbilical cord, cord blood is collected after a baby is born and after the umbilical cord is cut—an important point.

“Because cord blood is typically collected after the baby is delivered and the cord is cut, the procedure is generally safe for the mother and baby,” explains Keith Wonnacott, Ph.D., Chief of the Cellular Therapies Branch in FDA’s Office of Cellular, Tissue, and Gene Therapies.

Approved Uses By the Food and Drug Administration states the following:

Cord blood is approved only for use in “hematopoietic stem cell transplantation” procedures, which are done in patients with disorders affecting the hematopoietic (blood forming) system. Cord blood contains blood-forming stem cells that can be used in the treatment of patients with blood cancers such as leukemias and lymphomas, as well as certain disorders of the blood and immune systems, such as sickle cell disease and Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome.

“Cord blood is useful because it is a source of stem cells that form into blood cells. Cord blood can be used for transplantation in people who need regeneration, that is, ‘regrowth,’ of these blood-forming cells,” Wonnacott says.

For instance, in many cancer patients, the disease is found in the blood cells. Chemotherapy treatment of these patients kills both cancer cells and the healthy blood-forming stem cells. Transplanted stem cells from cord blood can help regrow the healthy blood cells after the chemotherapy.

However, cord blood is not a cure-all.

“Because cord blood contains stem cells, there have been stem cell fraud cases related to cord blood,” says Wonnacott. “Consumers may think that stem cells can cure any disease, but science doesn’t show this to be the case. Patients should be skeptical if cord blood is being promoted for uses other than blood stem cell regeneration.”

About Cord Blood Banking

After cord blood is collected, it is frozen and can be safely stored for many years. “The method of freezing, called ‘cryopreservation,’ is very important to maintain the integrity of the cells,” Wonnacott says. “Cord blood needs to be stored carefully.”

You may choose to store your baby’s cord blood in a private bank so it can be available if needed in the future by your child or first- or second-degree relatives. Private cord banks typically charge fees for blood collection and storage.

Or you may donate the cord blood to a public bank so that doctors can use for a patient who needs a hematopoietic stem cell transplant.

FDA regulates cord blood in different ways, depending on the source, level of processing and intended use.

Cord blood stored for personal use, for use in first- or second-degree relatives, and that also meets other criteria in FDA’s regulations, does not require the agency’s approval before use. Private cord banks must still comply with other FDA requirements, including establishment registration and listing, current good tissue practice regulations, and donor screening and testing for infectious diseases (except when cord blood is used for the original donor). These FDA requirements ensure safety of these products by minimizing the risk of contamination and transmission of infectious diseases.

Cord blood stored for use by a patient unrelated to the donor meets the legal definitions of both a “drug” and a “biological product.” Cord blood in this category must meet additional requirements and be licensed under a biologics license application, or be the subject of an investigational new drug application before use. The FDA requirements help to ensure that these products are safe and effective for their intended use.

Not every cord blood unit will meet requirements for public banking, adds Safa Karandish, M.T., an FDA consumer safety officer. If that happens, some of this donated cord blood may be used for non-clinical research.

“What has made us a nation is our love of liberty and our realization that we’re part of a great historic venture, an experiment in freedom to test the ability of people to live together in freedom, respecting the rights of others and expecting that their rights, in turn, will be respected.  We don’t celebrate dependency day on the 4th of July we celebrate independency day!”

2- “America is too great for small dreams. May all of you as Americans never forget your heroic origins, never fail to seek Divine guidance, and never lose your natural God-given optimism.”

President Ronald Reagan ( The Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation & Institute)

Thank you all veterans active and retired for  everything you have done and continue to do in keeping our country, the U.S.A., safe and Happy 4th of July this 250th Anniversary!

“Independence Day is the single biggest day of the year for lost pets — more dogs and cats go missing around July 4th than any other time. Fireworks are the most well-known culprit, but barbecue hazards, summer heat, water dangers, and crowded gatherings all pose serious risks too.

Fireworks can be terrifying for pets, leading to stress, fear, and potential injury. Keep your pet indoors during prime showtimes around sunset. Create a safe, quiet space for them with comforting items, such as their favorite toys and a cozy bed, and provide engaging treat puzzles and chews for distraction. Additionally, consider using calming products, such as pheromone sprays and diffusers, compression wraps, and soothing music, to help reduce their anxiety.”

American Animal Hospital Association (July 4th Pet Safety Tips: Protecting Your Dog or Cat on Independence Day – AAHA)

“FIREWORKS SAFETY The safest way to enjoy fireworks is to attend a public firework show put on by professionals. Many states outlaw most fireworks, so consider celebrating with glow sticks, noise makers or silly string instead. If you choose to set fireworks off at home, follow these safety steps:

• Never give fireworks to small children, and never throw or point a firework toward people, animals, vehicles, structures or flammable materials.
• Always follow the instructions on the packaging.
• Keep a supply of water close by.
• Make sure the person lighting fireworks always wears eye protection.
• Light only one firework at a time and never attempt to relight “a dud.”
• Store fireworks in a cool, dry place away from children and pets.
• Never use fireworks around pets, keep pets indoors!”

American Red Cross (Tips to Help You Have a Safe 4th of July)

The Fourth of July is a time to celebrate with friends and family the vast opportunities our country has given us. While we reach the end of the COVID-19 pandemic, many Independence Day traditions and celebrations are a go, but that may not be the case everywhere. Be sure to check your local restrictions before hosting barbeques. If your state is fully opened and you plan to attend an event, be vigilant about your safety and that of your belongings. Here are a few other tips to help you get through the festivities.

WAYS TO STAY SAFE ON THE FOURTH OF JULY

1. Stay cool and hydrated especially in areas very hot!

July is one of the hottest times of the year and it’s easy to fall victim to sun or heat stroke. Stay cool by being a shade-seeker: bringing an umbrella with you, wearing a hat, or staying under the covered portion of a porch or patio. It’s equally as important to wear sunscreen as well as light and loose clothing.

Finally, don’t forget the water. Many times, we get caught up in festive food and drink options and forget to add in water. Aim for eight cups or more per day, depending on how hot it is outside or how much sweet or salty food you are consuming.

2. Consider the safety of your food

The heat not only has an impact on you but your food as well.  Having a BBQ and thinking of throwing all the meat on one platter outside awaiting the grill? Think again. Keep raw meat and seafood cold until it’s ready to be cooked. Once it’s ready, keep it hot until it’s consumed, then put in the fridge once everyone is done, meaning, don’t let it sit out. Contaminated food or items that have sat out too long can lead to food poisoning of some sickness, like infection.

3. Be mindful at events

Summer and celebrations mean concerts, BBQs, and state or county fairs. But it’s important to always be aware of your surroundings. Don’t leave your food, bag, or belongings unattended, and if the event is happening at night, be sure to stick with a friend. Fireworks are prime for theft as they are loud with those watching focused on the show.

4. Prevent eye injury

Prevent Blindness Texas has declared June 28th through July 4th as Fireworks Safety Awareness Week. Fireworks can damage your eyes, too. Contusions and lacerations are the most frequent injuries to eyes, which include foreign bodies in the eye.

If you do encounter an eye emergency, follow these steps to save your sight.

In the event of an eye emergency:

1. Do not rub the eye. Rubbing the eye may increase bleeding or make the injury worse.
2. Do not attempt to rinse out the eye. This can be even more damaging than rubbing.
3. Do not apply pressure to the eye itself. Holding or taping a foam cup or the bottom of a juice carton to the eye are just two tips. Protecting the eye from further contact with any item, including your hand, is the goal.
4. Do not stop for medicine! Over-the-counter pain relievers will not do much to relieve pain. Aspirin (should never be given to children) and Ibuprofen can thin the blood and increase bleeding. Go to the emergency room at once – this is more important than stopping for a pain reliever.
5. Do not apply ointment. Ointment, which may not be sterile, makes the area around the eye slippery and harder for the doctor to examine.

Overall, the best way to prevent eye or other injuries is to not play with fireworks and do not let your child play with fireworks, even if their friends are.

“Fireworks and the 4^th of July go hand-in-hand, dating back to the very first 4^th of July celebration in 1777. But while the colorful sparks and exciting booms are a holiday staple, it’s important to keep in mind that fireworks can be extremely dangerous.

Handling fireworks can lead to extreme burns and other serious injuries, usually on the hands, arms, and legs. In 2023, emergency room providers treated 9,700 people for injuries from fireworks, according to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. Children aged 5 to 9 years old and teenagers aged 15 to 19 had the highest rates of firework injury.

“In general, children should be nowhere near or around fireworks that are being ignited, even in places where fireworks are legal and were purchased by someone 21 or older,” Dr. Flaherty emphasizes.

The safest option is to leave fireworks to the professionals. Your city or town likely hosts firework displays around and on the holiday. Make sure you stick to viewing fireworks from authorized locations and don’t try getting closer to the action.”

Mass Brigham Hospital (4th of July Safety Tips | Mass General Brigham)