By Stephanie Dunn Ashley
The evenings are long, the air is warm, school is out (almost!). Summer is a season many of us look forward to all year. It is a time when we can have a sunset picnic at Tod’s Point, soak up some rays at Byram Park, or simply slow down and relax. It is also a time when we have to be extra careful to make sure that our summer is remembered fondly, not tragically.
Summer fun often involves spending more time near water. Remember that drowning is preventable with some precautions. Drowning rarely looks like it does in movies: it is often silent, without splashing or yelling, and can happen in less than a minute and even in a few inches of water.
Staying attentive around pools and open water, especially with children or pets in the area, is one of the most important ways we can prevent tragedy. You should always designate a “water watcher” — someone whose sole responsibility is to keep a close eye and constant attention on everyone in and around the water. Make sure to have adults take turns so that nobody loses focus. More than 60% of drowning rescues are made by the people nearby, before help arrives. Teach your kids to ask permission before entering the water so adults can confirm that a designated water watcher is in place alongside any lifeguards.
As the weather gets hot, it is also important to be mindful of extreme heat. Stay hydrated, limit time outdoors during the hottest parts of the day and check in on older neighbors or those without air conditioning. Remember that pets can overheat too. Never leave them alone in the car, even with the windows cracked open, and be sure they have plenty of fresh water to drink.
Summer is also a time when another, less visible challenge emerges. As schedules shift and many people are away, we typically see fewer blood donation appointments being made, at the very time injuries from travel, sports, and outdoor activities increase. This uptick in traumatic injuries during summer is on top of all the patients who continue to rely on blood for surgeries, cancer treatments, and other medical procedures. The need for blood is constant and does not take a summer break.
Despite donating blood for much of my life, this need has taken on a more personal meaning for me. As some in our community may know, I was recently diagnosed with cancer. I’m grateful to share that I have responded well to chemotherapy so far, and my care team is encouraged by my progress.
I have been fortunate not to need platelet transfusions, but many others fighting cancer are not as lucky. Chemotherapy can significantly lower platelet counts, and when that happens, patients are at risk of serious or even life-threatening bleeding. Platelets — the tiny cells in our blood that help it clot — have a shelf life of just five days, and on average are transfused within just three days of donation. Every 15 seconds, someone in the United States needs platelets, making regular donations essential.
I still remember my first chemotherapy appointment, when I saw a bag of blood being carried past me that bore the American Red Cross logo, knowing that this bag carried hope and comfort to someone who was as scared as I was in that moment. As I look ahead to the next phase of my treatment, which will include surgeries later this year, I am comforted by the knowledge that my hospital will have blood available in case there are complications during my procedures. But this blood does not magically appear on the shelves by itself. It cannot be manufactured. It can only come from the generosity of individual people who roll up their sleeves to donate.
There is a saying that small acts of kindness create ripple effects far beyond what we can see. Donating blood is one of those acts. It is simple, it is safe, and it has the potential to save lives — perhaps even the life of someone in our own community. The Jill and John Coyle Blood Donor Center here in Greenwich makes it especially easy to do so, with evening and weekend hours that can fit even the busiest summer schedules.
As we embrace all that this summer season has to offer, I encourage each of us to think about how we care for one another: by staying safe, being prepared, and, if you are able, giving blood. These are the quiet but meaningful ways we strengthen the fabric of our community.
Stephanie has worked and volunteered in the nonprofit sector in Greenwich for over twenty years. Her current role as CEO of the MNYN chapter of the American Red Cross began in March 2020. Stephanie overseas Westchester and Rockland Counties in New York, the U. S. Military Academy at West Point, and Greenwich, Connecticut for all lines of service of the Red Cross. From 2007-2020 Stephanie was Director of Fundraising Special Events for Greenwich Hospital where she was the leader of the fundraising team that planned and executed over fifty galas, major fundraisers, cultivation events, and community events resulting in needed funds for the hospital. Previously, Stephanie worked at Convent of the Sacred Heart in Greenwich, where she headed up alumnae advancement within the development office. Stephanie is also a volunteer EMT with Greenwich EMS and President of the Cos Cob Fire Police Patrol.
