Blood Bank of Delmarva’s celebration of National Blood Donor Month throughout the Delmarva Peninsula in January continued with proclamations and tributes created by Kent County Levy Court, Dover City Council, the Town of Middletown, Delaware and the Town of Ocean City, Maryland.
Ocean City Mayor Rick Meehan presented a proclamation to Blood Bank of Delmarva at the beginning of the 26th annual Ocean City Blood Drive on Monday, January 27. It was a fitting tribute to start the largest blood drive of the year, which occurs as the pinnacle of National Blood Donor Month.
“Whereas, the Ocean City Blood Drive, in its 26th year, is the biggest blood drive held by Blood Bank of Delmarva held annually; making it the most important blood drive of the winter months,” Mayor Meehan read, in part. “Now, therefore, I Richard W. Meehan, Mayor of the Town of Ocean City, Maryland, along with the Ocean City Council, do hereby proclaim the month of January as National Blood Donor Month in Ocean City. I do hereby urge all citizens to celebrate the cause of blood donation and recognize volunteer blood donors for their generous gifts.”
In addition, officials from Kent County Levy Court joined Blood Bank of Delmarva officials to continue the celebration and observance of National Blood Donor Month at a brief ceremony held at the Dover Donor Center Thursday, January 23.
Kevin Sipple, Acting County Administrator; Lauren Gutierrez, Assistant County Administrator; and Shana Reed, Administrative Coordinator for Kent County Levy Court, presented a tribute to BBD Executive Director Steve Corse, Director of Donor Services Megan Johnson, and Director of Donor Recruitment Joanna Arat. The Tribute was signed by all seven members of Kent County Levy Court.
Mr. Sipple read in part, “Despite a blood donation occurring every two seconds in the U.S., only 3% of eligible donors donate, leading to chronic shortages. O negative blood type, the universal donor, is especially critical in trauma situations.”
Dover City Councilwoman Tricia Arndt, an O positive donor who gave at the 9/11 Memorial Blood Drive, and Dover City Councilman Brian Lewis, who helped BBD promote the 9/11 blood drive held at Dover Motor Speedway, also officially recognized National Blood Donor Month.
“On behalf of the Mayor and Dover City Council, I want to thank Blood Bank of Delmarva for hosting this event and for your commitment to the community,” Councilwoman Arndt said. “I also want to encourage everyone to donate this month and commit to donating every season, which I’m going to do. I’m going to sign up for my next appointment before leaving.”
Councilman Lewis, for his part, gave BBD officials a “Certificate of Recognition presented to Blood Bank of Delmarva in honor of your unwavering commitment to saving lives and fostering a spirit of community service for over 70 years.”
In a surprise move, Councilman Lewis also presented a Certificate of Recognition to his friend, Blood Bank of Delmarva Communications Specialist Tony Prado for “your dedication, time, and effort in coordinating and promoting blood drives throughout the State of Delaware…”
More than 50 years ago, President Richard Nixon signed a proclamation designating January as National Blood Donor Month. The annual observance is meant to honor voluntary blood donors and encourage more people to give blood during winter when blood donations typically drop.
The weeks following the holiday season are always difficult for the blood supply as school breaks, holiday travel, seasonal illness and cold weather often contribute to fewer donations. Hospitals and patients rely upon a steady flow of volunteer donors, but the past few years have brought chronic blood shortages nationwide. To combat this, Blood Bank of Delmarva and partners are challenging current donors to donate more, seeking to recruit more young and first-time donors into the fold, and asking underrepresented portions of the state population to donate more, namely, African Americans, Hispanic Americans and Asian Americans.
As a case in point, Mr. Corse pointed out how difficult it’s been this January collecting blood in the face of snowstorms, artic, frigid weather, and seasonal illnesses such as cold and flu. The combination of events this month led to blood drive cancellations and missed appointments, illustrating the need for awareness of National Blood Donor Month.
BBD’s celebration of the month began in early January, with a proclamation from then-Governor Bethany Hall-Long and resolutions from New Castle County Council President Monique Williams-Johns and Delaware State Senator Nicole Poore.