Lycoming County proclaims March 2025 Bleeding Disorders Awareness Month

Lycoming County commissioners on March 2025 proclaimed March as Bleeding Disorders Awareness Month and accepted remarks from the Eastern Pennsylvania Bleeding Disorders Foundation about diagnosis and resources.

The proclamation, read during the commissioners' meeting, noted the national observance of bleeding-disorder issues and cited historical and public-health context for the designation. Sarah Palacic, executive director of the Eastern Pennsylvania Bleeding Disorders Foundation, spoke to the commissioners about the prevalence of inheritable bleeding disorders and resources for people who exhibit symptoms.

Palacic said the most common inherited bleeding condition, von Willebrand disease, "impacts over 3 percent of the population yet often goes unrecognized due to limited awareness, both among medical professionals and the public, especially among women and girls." She encouraged residents experiencing symptoms to use the BetterYouKnow.org screening tool or contact the Eastern Pennsylvania Bleeding Disorders Foundation or the Western Pennsylvania Bleeding Disorders Foundation for information about testing and care.

The proclamation text presented to the commissioners recited the history of the national observance, referenced infection risks experienced by people with hemophilia in the 1980s, and described advances in treatment and ongoing needs for awareness and services. Commissioners said staff would mail the signed proclamation to the foundation.

Palacic said the foundation represents most of Pennsylvania's counties (41 of 67) and highlighted that the statewide budget includes a hemophilia line item. She thanked the commissioners for the recognition and for supporting the bleeding-disorders community.

The meeting record does not show a roll-call vote tied to the proclamation; the document was read aloud, and the commissioners signed and directed staff to mail it to the foundation.