DVT Awareness Month Reviewed

Click here to read about DVT Awareness Month, March 2007

Marie B. Walker
April, 2006

Deep Vein Thrombosis Awareness Month was kicked off on March 7, 2006 as DVT survivors, their family members, and friends joined together in New York City, Washington DC, and Miami to attempt to form the world's longest kick-line. Click here to learn more about the DVT Kick-line event.

Melanie Bloom and others involved with the Coalition to Prevent Deep-Vein Thrombosis appeared on numerous television and radio programs throughout the month of March to promote awareness of DVT. Some major media coverage highlights are listed below

• On March 7th USA Today featured Melanie Bloom's story and her dedication to both the Coalition and DVT awareness.
• Larry King Live dedicated an entire show to DVT awareness with Melanie Bloom, Geno Merli, M.D. and PSA participants Cedric Bills, Ken Whitescarver and Jadine Chow all speaking in depth about the need for greater DVT awareness.
• On-line coverage included a WebMD article, which serves as the centerpiece of an expanded section devoted to DVT.
• In addition, more than two hundred local television stations across the country covered DVT Awareness Month.

Major news outlets that provided coverage for DVT Awareness Month include:

• The Today Show
• Larry King Live
• The View
• Fox & Friends Saturday
• MSNBC
• CNN Headline News
• USA Today
• The New York Times
• The Washington Post
• The Los Angeles Times
• The Miami Herald

Click here to view the 2006 DVT Awareness Public Service Announcement. Note that the video may take a few moments to load.

In addition to national press coverage, DVT awareness has received national legislative attention. In 2005, Senate Resolution 56 was passed, officially making March National DVT Awareness Month. In 2006, state senators in both Pennsylvania and New Jersey passed resolutions declaring March as DVT Awareness Month in their respective state legislative bodies.

The emphasis on DVT awareness has been just as strong recently in the healthcare community as it has been in the public domain. On March 24, 2006, the National Quality Forum (NQF) held a summit to advance the prevention and treatment of deep vein thrombosis. You can learn more about the NQF Summit on Deep Vein Thrombosis by clicking here to review a press release from the NQF.

If you or your organization held or participated in activities to promote DVT Awareness and would like to share that information with ClotCare, please feel free to contact Marie Walker at webmaster@clotcare.com.

If you or someone you know has survived a DVT and/or PE and you would like to share your story, you may do so by visiting www.preventdvt.org.