From a press release:
The Blood Connection recognizes National Police Week, asking for donations to remember the fallen.
Law enforcement officers have a duty of the highest honor. They serve our communities and investigate danger with a near-instant readiness that protects our way of life. Community blood donors also serve, saving the lives of patients being treated for cancer, undergoing surgery or needing emergency care after a traumatic event. In honor of National Police Week (May 16-20), The Blood Connection will join law enforcement agencies to pay tribute to the courage of the many law enforcement officers whose lives have been taken in the line of duty.
“We hope every eligible donor will give the gift of life next week as we honor law enforcement in our communities,” said The Blood Connection President and CEO Delisa English. “We thank law enforcement agencies that keep our communities safe and protect the freedoms we enjoy. We also appreciate our blood donors who give with the same spirit of service and sacrifice as the fallen we honor.”
A law enforcement blood drive will take place on Thursday, May 19, from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. at 1616 Patton Avenue, Asheville.
In addition, donors can honor law enforcement by donating blood at any of The Blood Connection’s donation centers in Greenville, Seneca, Greenwood, Spartanburg, and Easley, South Carolina. Donations can also be made at TBC’s donation center in Hendersonville, NC.
In 1962, President John F. Kennedy signed a proclamation that designated May 15th as Peace Officers Memorial Day. The week in which that day falls is also known as National Police Week. Every year during police week, tens of thousands of law enforcement officers gather in Washington, DC to take part in a number of events designed to pay honor to those officers who have made the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty. In Greenville, the Upstate and Western North Carolina, The Blood Connection holds blood drives annually to honor and remember law enforcement officers who made the ultimate sacrifice, as well as the family members, friends and fellow officers left behind.
To donate blood, donors must be at least 16, weigh at least 110 pounds and be in generally good health. Sixteen year olds must have written parental permission.
“Every two seconds someone needs blood, and every blood type is needed,” said English. “Remember, it’s only through the lifesaving gifts of community blood donors that we can ensure a child celebrates another birthday, that a mother sees her children grow up, and that a patient can beat cancer.”
About The Blood Connection
Founded in 1979 in Greenville, SC, The Blood Connection (TBC) is the largest independently managed, non-profit community blood center in the region. It recruits donors and collects blood within an 8,390 square mile area of South Carolina, Georgia and North Carolina. In South Carolina, TBC supports Greenville, Spartanburg, Union, Pickens, Oconee, Greenwood, McCormick, Laurens, and Newberry Counties. In Georgia, TBC supports Stephens County. In 2011, The Blood Connection expanded into Western North Carolina and now serves Polk, Buncombe, Transylvania, McDowell, Macon and Henderson Counties.
Licensed and regulated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, TBC collects blood from donors through bloodmobiles, portable field units, and fixed donation sites. It holds approximately twelve blood drives every day and collects over 120,000 units of blood, platelets and plasma each year to connect volunteer blood donors, hospitals, and patients needing life-saving transfusions. For more information, visit thebloodconnection.org.
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