The Nebraska Community Blood Bank says more than 18-hundred donors rolled up their sleeves August 26 through September 7 during the 12 Days of Hope Blood Drive that honored fallen Lincoln Police Officer Mario Herrera.
Kari Lundeen with the blood bank says there was a 50% increase in blood donations over the same time last year. “One donation equates to saving three people’s lives because every donation is made up of red blood cells, platelets and plasma, which will go to three different patients.
She says that means the lives of 5,400 people could possibly be saved. They supply blood to more than two dozen hospitals in Nebraska and western Iowa. 223 of the units collected came from police officers and firefighters from Lincoln and Omaha.
LPD donated 76 units of blood, the largest in department history. LFR contributed 68 units of blood. New Police Chief Teresa Ewins thanked the community for making the drive a success. “Lincoln is definitely a community that gives, but we have to continue,” Ewins says. “It’s going to help so many people if we continue to do that and we do it often.”
Lincoln Fire and Rescue Chief Dave Engler is also thankful to the community. “The members of our community in Lincoln do a great job and stepping up. Even though this event has concluded, I think it’s important that they continue to donate because the lives everyday need to be saved and everyone can play a role in that.”
The drive ended on September 7, the one year anniversary of Herrera’s death. The blood drive represented the 12 additional days Herrera’s family got to spend with him due to the blood transfusions he received.
