First responders battle to help fill area blood supply

A challenge to local first responders helped fill area blood supplies.

The Battle of the Badges was held last week, and Ameris Bank turned its community room into a blood donation center.

The challenge was issued to the Liberty County Sheriff ’s Office, the EMS, and local police and fire departments, with a foursome at the upcoming Red Cross golf tournament and bragging rights at stake, said the Red Cross’ Cindi Bauer.

Blood donations are always in need, but summer is an especially critical time.

“It’s important for people to give,” said Maria Center of the Red Cross. “The summer months are a particularly challenging time.”

Blood, Bauer said, has a short shelf life. But once it is donated, it can be turned into several different products, such as plasma or platelets, within 24 hours.

“We need a blood supply that is just as diverse as our population,” Bauer said.

As part of the donation process, Black potential donors are screened for the sickle cell trait. Sickle cell anemia affects one in every 365 Black Americans.

Donating can be done by downloading the Red Cross on a phone and scheduling an appointment. For some donors at Ameris Bank, this drive was their first time rolling up a sleeve.

“I’ve always been scared to donate,” said Jaclyn Ashread. “My husband convinced me.”

A donated unit of blood can help as many as three people through its different products.

“It’s awesome,” Ashread said. “So when they said this, I said ‘I’ll try it.’” Her father was a regular blood donor but her husband Benjamin couldn’t donate for years, after living overseas. Now, he’s a two-time donor and plans to donate as often as possible.

“I’m going to do it every eight weeks,” he said. “Let’s go. I’m a committed donor.”