Texans can support U.S. veterans by donating blood in November
Carter BloodCare invites donors to give in recognition of Americans’ military service
BEDFORD, TEXAS (Nov. 4, 2022) – This month, Carter BloodCare encourages individuals to give blood in honor and support of U.S. military veterans and active-duty service members.
Veterans Day on Friday, Nov. 11, pays tribute to all American veterans for their commitment and service in war and peacetime.
The U.S. Census Bureau recorded 16.5 million military veterans in the United States in 2021. Of those, more than 1.4 million veterans were living in Texas, the most of any state.
Past and current service members recognize the importance of preparation and community support in maintaining a safe, readily available blood supply.
Battlefield experience compels blood donation
North Texas resident David Current was compelled to donate blood because of his experience in the U.S. armed forces.
“I started donating after getting out of the service and returning from Vietnam in 1968. Seeing wounded soldiers in war was one reason to donate,” he said. “Then I was told I had a factor in my blood that newborns needed. That encouraged me even more.”
A longtime volunteer with Children’s Medical Center Dallas, Current further recognized a way he could continue serving those in need.
“I saw so many children with cancer and sickle cell that needed platelets. I got into the habit of donating blood and platelets when I could,” he said. “I do it because I can.”
Family service to country and community
Retired U.S. Army First Sergeant and Carter BloodCare Special Programs Coordinator Kandy Flores also acknowledged the connection between military service and community service by donating blood. Her father, husband, brother and son are U.S. Army veterans and blood donors.
“My entire family knows the importance of selfless service and paying it forward,” she said. “Blood cannot be created in a lab, so we make it a priority to donate to save lives. It is an incredible opportunity to give back in honor of those who made the sacrifice to serve our country.”
Updated eligibility a welcome change for many veterans
Carter BloodCare also notes that this Veterans Day, previously deferred service members may once again be eligible to donate blood.
For many decades, those who lived for an extended time in parts of Europe had been deferred from donating blood. This followed U.S. Food and Drug Administration restrictions based on possible risk of variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (vCJD), commonly known as mad cow disease.
This past summer, however, the FDA revised its deferral period, a welcome change that Carter BloodCare began implementing in August.
Donate for veterans and neighbors in need
Donating blood, platelets or plasma is a way to honor all veterans and to support local patients. The need for blood is nonstop for people who require lifesaving transfusions. They include severe trauma and accident patients, older adults with age-related health issues, burn patients, those undergoing cancer treatments, organ transplant and surgical patients, children with anemia, and mothers experiencing difficult childbirths.
Donors can give at a nearby Carter BloodCare donor center or blood drive. To schedule an appointment to save lives, call Carter BloodCare at 800-366-2834, or visit CarterBloodCare.org and click the Donate Now tab.
About Carter BloodCare
Carter BloodCare is an independent, community blood center providing transfusion resources to more than 200 medical facilities in 50-plus counties of North, Central and East Texas. The nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization is one of the largest blood programs in Texas, delivering more than 440,000 blood products annually to meet hospitals’ requirements for their patients. Services include collection, processing, specialized laboratory testing, storage and distribution of blood and blood products.
