Officials Urge for More Diversity Amongst Blood Donors
NEAR WILMINGTON, Del. – State and local officials joined Blood Bank of Delmarva (BBD) donors, advocates, and Nemours Children’s Health officials to commence the celebration of National Blood Donor Month at a press conference held at Nemours Children’s Hospital on Wednesday, January 8.
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 at a time 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.
BBD received a proclamation from Governor Bethany Hall-Long recognizing National Blood Donor Month in the State of Delaware.
“Whereas, in our communities the need for diverse blood supply is constant, but the supply is not, making volunteer blood donors the foundation for ensuring a safe and stable supply of blood products is available to help meet the medical needs of patients…Now, therefore, we …do hereby declare January 2025 as Blood Donation Month in the State of Delaware, and urge all Delawareans to donate regularly and encourage businesses and organizations throughout the state to sponsor community-based blood drives with the Blood Bank of Delmarva to provide citizens with the opportunity to give,” the proclamation from Governor Hall-Long said, in part.
Jose Martinez, Clinical Laboratory Manager of the Blood Bank, Hematology, and Stem Cell/Cellular Therapy laboratory at Nemours Children’s Health, Delaware Valley, welcomed everyone to Nemours Children’s Hospital as the host of this year’s National Blood Donor Month press conference.
“The donations we receive from the Blood Bank of Delmarva allow us to meet the needs of our young patients in a variety of ways. Whether it’s a surgical case, a rare blood type need, a platelet transfusion for a cancer patient, or a complex serological technical work up, they are there to support our needs” Martinez said. “We would also like to thank all of the blood donors that allow this partnership to continue.”
New Castle County Council President Monique Williams-Johns presented the resolution locally recognizing National Blood Donor Month, noting “the need for a diverse blood supply is constant, but the supply is not” and that “New Castle County Paramedics have partnered with Blood Bank of Delmarva for the last two years to transfuse pre-hospital, low titer O-positive whole blood at the scene of accidents and traumas in an effort to save more lives.”
“Now, therefore, be it resolved,by and for the County Council of New Castle County that County Council hereby approves the recognition locally of National Blood Donor Month and that County residents who donate blood be recognized for their volunteer acts, and this esteemed panel also encourages businesses and organizations to sponsor community-based blood drives with Blood Bank of Delmarva, among other collection institutions,” Williams-Johns said, quoting the resolution.
New Castle County Emergency Medical Services Chief Mark Logemann was also on hand, to give an update on the county’s partnership with BBD in terms of pre-hospital whole blood, which further underscores the importance of blood donors. Chief Logemann is an O positive blood donor.
“New Castle County Emergency Medical Services is always looking to provide the best, most state-of-the-art care to our patients,” Chief Logemann said. “We knew that providing whole blood to victims of uncontrolled bleeding in the field could be difference between life and death for many of those in need. As this was a monumental task, we partnered with the Blood Bank of Delmarva, who worked tirelessly with us to make whole blood in the field a reality. Since initiating the program in May of 2023, New Castle County Paramedics have administered 172 units of blood. Our data clearly shows that this program is saving lives. I have personally been inspired to give blood on a regular basis and encourage all who are eligible to consider doing the same.”
State Senator Nicole Saville Poore, another one of BBD’s loyal, O positive donors, spoke about how much she’s learned since beginning to donate blood. She began donating with Charity Crossing’s quarterly blood drive three years ago, and she was instrumental in getting the Martinez family’s inaugural In Honor of Avalon Grant Blood Drive formed in November.
“Our friends at Blood Bank of Delmarva need our help! If you know me, you know that I absolutely hate needles,” Senator Poore said. “But, with support and encouragement from the staff at BBD and my friends at Charity Crossing, I have made donating blood part of my routine. It’s an easy way to give back to our community, especially during the challenging wintertime months.
“A successful blood transfusion can mean the difference between severe pain and relief for a sickle cell patient and could help patients avoid life-threatening complications,” Senator Poore added. “For the In memory of Avalon Grant drive, Julie Martinez did a fabulous job bringing us together to donate blood, along with Dr. Nina Anderson, of TOVA Community Health. We can continue to make strides in the New Year.”
New York Blood Center Enterprises Chief Medical Officer and Blood Bank of Delmarva Medical Director Dr. Bruce Sachais, himself a B positive blood donor, highlighted the need for more blood donors since a synthetic replacement for blood is still far away.
“The purpose of National Blood Donor Month is to ensure we maintain a healthy blood supply in the dead of winter – so that we can consistently provide blood products to patients in need. That’s it in a nutshell,” Dr. Sachais said. “Blood only comes from human beings willing to donate some of their time to us and, in so doing, give back to their community in a profound way.”
He also said that BBD will hopefully continue to close the gap with parts of the population that are underrepresented amongst blood donors. For instance, one in three African American blood donors is a match for sickle cell patients, and other patient populations benefit from closely matched blood, especially within specific, ethnic groups.
Blood Bank of Delmarva Executive Director, Blood Operations Steven Corse took a moment to thank some of BBD’s heavyweight donors, including Robert Moley and Eric Mayer, who both surpassed 500 platelet donations; John Nanni, who surpassed 400 donations; and Joel Plaut and Charles Putnam, who have donated and astonishing 25 and 26 gallons of whole blood, respectively.
“National Blood Donor Month is all about not just thanking our present donors, but also winning over new, first-time, and young donors,” said Corse, an A positive donor. “We were encouraged to see a number of young donors gravitate toward our donor centers after having great experiences donating at one of our mobile blood drives held at high schools and colleges. That included Mackenize Fanning of Saint Mark’s, Rebecca Maiorano, a Stevenson University nursing major; Isabella Ferris from Archmere Academy; and University of Delaware students Zoe Rawheiser and Spencer Toth, who donated during their winter break.”
Last, but certainly not least, Naomi Quick, Mother of Blood Recipient Caleb Quick, summed up the importance of National Blood Donor Month through the lens of her son, Caleb, who successfully battled childhood cancer thanks in part to transfusions.
“Dr. Sachais and Steve thanked some of the donors who have helped BBD, and I would like to reiterate my husband and I’s gratitude to the five donors Caleb met personally in September, namely Steve Aubuchon, David Blake, Tobi Fitzgerald, Ken Haley, and Ernest Kulhanek,” Quick said. “It was amazing; even my husband, John, was moved, and that’s an easy feat.
“I just want to add that it’s fitting that National Blood Donor Month takes place in January, because it was a January a few years ago when Caleb received his last transfusion of platelets right here at the amazing Nemours Children’s Hospital,” she said. “It was amazing to see the color come back into his face and to see our little boy be reinfused with energy again. It’s hard for me to describe, really. But take my word for it; blood donors saved my son’s life. There are no words I can say to express how we and all of Caleb’s siblings feel about you ensuring he’s still here with us today. And thank you, Nemours.”
Blood donors can give every 56 days, and platelet donors can give twice per month. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently lifted several blood donor eligibility restrictions. To view current eligibility guidelines, visit DelmarvaBlood.org or call 1.888.8.BLOOD.8.
