The Red Cross has issued its first-ever national blood crisis amid the omicron surge. The Red Cross says it could affect patients in hospitals who desperately need blood, platelets or plasma.
Asheville police Capt. Joseph Silberman works in the criminal investigations department. He spends hours trying to puzzle together cases. A lot of his work now is in the office. But he values the impact it makes in the community.
“When we are able to bring a conclusion to a case, that really matters to the people we deal with and the victims and their families,” Silberman said. “You can see that the bit of justice we brought affected their lives.”
He also serves the community in a much deeper way. Once or twice a month Silberman donates blood or plasma at the American Red Cross. He has done this for more than two decades.
“This today will be 16 gallons, which is 128 units,” Silberman said.
The Red Cross says 128 units of blood could potentially help more than a hundred people. Silberman says two people he knows were diagnosed with cancer, and platelets helped them through their treatment.
“Both of them survived and I just think how important their relationships are to me now,” Silberman said. “You can’t make this in a lab, it has to come from someone.”
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