PO‘IPU — Kaua‘i blood donors contributed about 2,000 pints of the nearly 60,000 pints collected from more than 27,000 donors in Hawai‘i in 2011. Mayor Bernard Carvalho Jr. was one of those donors, and on Wednesday acknowledged the contribution of
PO‘IPU — Kaua‘i blood donors contributed about 2,000 pints of the nearly 60,000 pints collected from more than 27,000 donors in Hawai‘i in 2011.
Mayor Bernard Carvalho Jr. was one of those donors, and on Wednesday acknowledged the contribution of donors with a proclamation celebrating January as Blood Donor Month.
He presented the proclamation during a luncheon recognizing the contributions of Kaua‘i’s donors at Dondero’s Restaurant at the Grand Hyatt Kaua‘i Resort and Spa in Po‘ipu.
Hawai‘i faces unique challenges collecting and storing an adequate local blood supply due to its geographic location and diverse population.
Donated blood is needed for medical operations ranging from bone barrow and organ transplants to emergency and elective surgeries, states the proclamation presented by Carvalho to Hawai‘i Blood Bank COO Wendy Abe.
The Blood Bank of Hawai‘i has served the state since 1941, and annually honors donors.
Carvalho was prompted to start donating blood when a family member required help, he said, and he continues to contribute.
A single blood donation can assist up to three people, the proclamation states. Sixty percent of the general population will require blood during their lifetime, according to the proclamation, but only 2 percent of the eligible population donates blood.
Carvalho said every Kaua‘i resident and visitor who donates blood helps saves lives on the island, especially during winter months when blood is traditionally in short supply due to the holidays, illnesses, travel schedules and inclement weather.
Ron Wiley, emcee for the luncheon, said the next blood drive on Kaua‘i will take place in February.
The Blood Bank of Hawai‘i will be at the Kapa‘a High School library from 8:45 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. on Feb. 13. The drive moves to the Kaua‘i War Memorial Convention Hall from 9 a.m. to 4:45 p.m. on Feb. 14 and from 7 a.m. until 2 p.m. Feb. 15.
Visit www.bbh.org to schedule an appointment at one of those sites.
• Dennis Fujimoto, photographer and staff writer, can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 253) or dfujimoto@ thegardenisland.com.
