The Sterilization Packaging Manufacturers Council (SPMC®) is eagerly preparing for Sterile Packaging Day 2024, which will be celebrated at the Medical Design & Manufacturing West (MD&M West) conference on February 7.
MD&M West is a leading medical device trade show held yearly by Informa Markets. SPMC® and Informa are teaming up once again to celebrate Sterile Packaging Day at the Anaheim Convention Center among thousands of anticipated show attendees.
Fourth Annual Celebration
SPMC® founded Sterile Packaging Day in 2020 to honor and celebrate this highly specialized segment of the flexible packaging industry. Today, Sterile Packaging Day serves as a platform to raise awareness for the invaluable role sterile packaging plays in healthcare and its impact on patient safety.
A Salute to Medical Device Manufacturers
The medical field is advancing at an accelerated rate. Equipment and procedures continue to evolve, with early interventions and noninvasive medical devices gaining traction among specialists in various healthcare settings and traditional hospitals. Sterile packages are keeping pace with this innovation, offering convenience and ease of use for specific medical settings, professionals, and patients.
Sterile Packaging Day’s 2024 theme will pay tribute to the medical device manufacturers and their lifesaving solutions. The specific theme will be announced in late fall and bring together a collection of industry voices to share and amplify the theme on social media.
Expanding the Blood Drive
In 2022, SPMC® conceived a Sterile Packaging Day blood drive as a way to give back to the community and underscore how flexible sterilized packaging facilitates the safe collection of blood.
“I think it’s fair to say that without sterilized packaging, it would be nearly impossible to safely donate the gift of blood,” says Kathleen Daly Mascolo, vice president of sales and marketing at Beacon Converters, Inc., and chair of SPMC®’s Marketing Committee. “From the individually wrapped alcohol wipes to the needles, injection systems, blood collection sets, and Band-Aids, blood donation requires sterility every step of the way.”
“This year, we’re hoping to fill every available time slot for blood donation,” Mascolo adds. Donors can choose to donate whole blood or Power Red, which uses a special machine to safely donate two units of red blood cells during one donation while returning plasma and platelets to the donor.
To ensure donors are well-prepared for the blood drive, SPMC® will be distributing iron-rich snacks and refillable water bottles to all donors. “It’s really important to hydrate and eat iron-rich foods before donating blood,” Mascolo explains.
In 2023, the Informa + SPMC® Blood Drive resulted in the collection of 24 units of blood, exceeding the American Red Cross goal of 22 units. SPMC® is banking that with advanced sign-up options and increased publicity, it will surpass this goal.
Broadcasting on LinkedIn Live
SPMC® representatives plan to broadcast live once again from the Informa + SPMC® Blood Drive. “The LinkedIn Live event created a lot of energy and goodwill at the show,” Mascolo says. “We’re excited to try our hand at it again, perhaps with help from Informa and attendee interviews and participation.”
Lourdes Pogue is partner and creative director at Merakke. Reach her at lourdes@merakke.com.