March is Blood Clot Awareness Month (BCAM), a time dedicated to spreading the word about blood clots and their potentially fatal complication, pulmonary embolism.
Throughout the month, NBCA’s awareness campaign, “Recognize the Signs, Save Lives,” promotes learning the signs and symptoms of blood clots. This is because knowing the signs and symptoms and acting quickly can be the difference between life and death.
What will be happening during Blood Clot Awareness Month?
- NBCA is working to raise $100,000 and reach 100,000 people in honor of the 100,000 who die each year from preventable blood clots through the 100,000 Reasons Challenge.
- NBCA staff and volunteers are gathering in Washington, DC to meet with members of Congress to urge them to increase funding for blood clot education and awareness.
- NBCA is promoting awareness of the signs and symptoms of blood clots by sharing educational materials and patient stories.
- NBCA is honoring the lives of those who have died of blood clots by sharing their stories.
Why is it important to raise blood clot awareness?
- Less than 6% of Americans know what blood clots are and how to prevent them, yet they affect as many as 900,000 Americans every year.
- Every six minutes in the U.S., someone dies of a blood clot.
- The overall incidence of venous blood clots is 30-60% higher in Black patients compared to white patients.
- 274 people die every day in the U.S. from blood clots.
- A blood clot in the lung is one of the most common causes of pregnancy-related death in the U.S.
- Blood clots are the second leading cause of death in cancer patients, aside from cancer itself.
How can you get involved?
- Sign up for the 100,000 Reasons Challenge. Ride, run, walk, or move your body during this 31-day virtual challenge in March. Help us raise $100,000 and reach 100,000 people in honor of the 100,000 who die each year from preventable blood clots.
- Use our BCAM Social Media Toolkit and Action Guide to share resources about blood clots to your social platforms and learn about other ways to get involved.
- Urge Congress to expand funding for blood clot awareness and education by sending a message to your representatives.
- If you’ve experienced deep vein thrombosis or pulmonary embolism, post a short video on social media describing your blood clot signs and symptoms and use the hashtags #BCAM2024, #BCAM and #StopTheClot. Make sure to tag @StopTheClot.
- If you’ve lost a loved one to a blood clot, we urge you to share their story. Doing so is a meaningful action you can take to help raise awareness, educate others about signs and symptoms, promote prevention, and foster a supportive community. We will share these stories on our website and social media platforms throughout the month.
Learn more about Blood Clot Awareness Month 2024.
