By Stephanie Dunn Ashley
As June comes to a close and the Fourth of July draws near, many of us here in Greenwich are looking forward to a summer full of fireworks, barbecues, and time spent with loved ones. It’s a season of relaxation and celebration, but we can also take time to reflect on the values that bring us together: community, compassion, and care for each other. This summer, I’m asking you to consider a different kind of celebration — one that could save a life. As a volunteer with Greenwich Emergency Medical Service, I’ve seen firsthand how critical donated blood is during emergencies. It’s not just a nice thing for us to do — it’s a lifeline for people during the most urgent crises of their lives.
The need for blood is constant, but especially during summer months when people are away from school and work — and the associated blood drives that many of these institutions so generously host. That’s why we’re asking you to make and keep a blood or platelet donation appointment now to help power the blood supply through the busy weeks ahead.
All blood types are needed, but type O blood is especially in demand. Type O negative is the universal blood type used in trauma situations when there’s no time to determine a patient’s blood type. Type O positive is the most common and is vital for treating a wide range of patients. Whether it’s a car accident survivor, a cancer patient, or someone undergoing surgery, your blood donation could be the difference between life and death.
Here in Greenwich, we’re fortunate to have the Jill and John Coyle Blood Donor Center, a vital part of our community’s health infrastructure. It’s a convenient and welcoming place to donate, and I encourage everyone who is eligible to visit and roll up a sleeve. As a regular blood donor myself, I can tell you that the experience is simple, safe, and deeply rewarding.
The whole donation process can take about an hour in total. That includes checking in, undergoing a medical screening, waiting for an available chair to open up, eight to ten minutes to actually draw a pint of blood, and fifteen minutes of snacks and water afterwards. To the person who needs your blood donation, the impact lasts a lifetime.
So, as you plan your summer calendar, I encourage you to add one more meaningful event: a blood donation. You can schedule an appointment by visiting RedCrossBlood.org, calling 1-800-RED CROSS, or using the Red Cross Blood Donor App.
Let’s make this Fourth of July not just a celebration of freedom and independence, but a celebration of life. Together, we can ensure that every patient who needs blood has access to it — because kindness, like fireworks at Binney Park and Greenwich Point Park, is best when shared.
Stephanie Dunn Ashley is the CEO of the American Red Cross Metro NY North Chapter. Based in Greenwich, Conn., the chapter serves Westchester and Rockland counties, Greenwich, Conn., and the US Military Academy at West Point.
