Community leaders aim to end blood shortages in the Delmarva Peninsula, encouraging residents to donate once per season in 2024
STANTON, Del. – The Blood Bank of Delmarva (BBD) has teamed up with elected officials, hospital leaders, blood donors and transfusion recipients to celebrate National Blood Donor Month, encouraging blood donations and aiming to end blood shortages in the region. A joint press conference will be held on Thursday, January 4 at 10:00am at ChristianaCare John H. Ammon Medical Education Center, 4755 Ogletown-Stanton Rd, Newark, DE 19713. Several community leaders are slated to speak and Lt. Governor Bethany Hall-Long will present a proclamation on behalf of 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 at a time when more blood is needed. 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, community leaders are challenging residents to donate at least once per season in 2024.
Invited media will be able to film remarks from local elected officials, hospital leaders and BBD representatives. There will also be opportunities to secure one-on-one interviews with elected officials, hospital leaders, and others in attendance following the press conference.
WHO:
- Beau Tompkins, Vice President, Blood Bank of Delmarva
- United States Senator Thomas R. Carper, 4-gallon blood donor
- Lt. Governor Bethany Hall-Long, the first nurse of Delaware
- New Castle County Council President Karen Hartly-Nagle
- Michael Healy, Director, Blood Bank Services, ChristianaCare
- Dr. Corinna Schultz, Director, Hematology, Nemours Children’s Hospital
- Eric Mayer, BBD’s top platelet donor with 486 donations
- Robert Moley, BBD’s second top platelet donor with 485 donations
- Charles Putnam, BBD’s top whole blood donor, 25 gallons
- Shane Simmons, mother of Maverick Painter, 5, who received 8 units of blood
WHEN: Thursday, January 4, 2023 at 10:00 a.m.
WHERE: ChristianaCare John H. Ammon Medical Education Center, 4755 Ogletown-Stanton Rd, Newark, DE 19713. Please plan to arrive no later than 9:45 a.m. Guests may park in the Patient & Visitor Parking Garage on the Christiana Hospital campus.