Blood donations for a police officer injured this week while escorting President Bush's motorcade have not only saved his life, they've also helped build up supplies at the state's blood bank.

In a news conference in front of The Queen's Medical Center yesterday, officer Steve Favela's wife, Barbara, said the support from the public this past week has been "tremendous" and that she appreciates the efforts of those who have already donated blood on behalf of her husband.

"I just want to say on behalf of Steve and I that it's been a very rough time but we're very thankful for all the support we're getting," Barbara Favela said.

"What we really need right now is to call out to everybody to donate some blood on behalf of Steve. That would really be appreciated."

Family members didn't discuss specific details of Favela's injuries. Honolulu police Capt. Frank Fujii said Favela has improved since Tuesday but remains in critical condition.

"He's improved a little, but the situation can go either way," said Fujii. "Steve has lost a lot of blood."

Favela's cause prompted police officer James Urban to donate blood for the first time. Urban, who has the same O-positive blood type as Favela, said he donated a pint at the Blood Bank's Dillingham Donor Center yesterday. Urban added that he had to wait in line because there were police officers ahead of him.

Stephanie Rosso, spokeswoman for the Blood Bank of Hawaii, said collections yesterday — 234 pints of blood — were up about 17 percent from a typical day, when about 200 pints are collected.

Compared to the usual Friday after Thanksgiving, however, the collections were especially strong. Usually, donations drop 20 percent on that day.

Rosso noted that demand jumps during the holiday season.

"The support we're seeing this holiday season is appreciated because usage is high and donor turnout is usually low at this time," she said.

Since Wednesday, there have been several fatal traffic accidents, including a head-on collision in Wai'anae, a one-car accident in Kane'ohe and a collision on H-1 near Punchbowl

A fourth accident Thursday night on O'ahu's North Shore sent the driver to Queen's in extremely critical condition.

"It's been kind of a horrific Thanksgiving," said HPD's Fujii.

Favela, 30, suffered internal injuries and bleeding and remains in critical condition after he crashed his motorcycle at Hickam Air Force Base while escorting the presidential motorcade Tuesday morning.

Fujii said HPD is investigating the cause of Tuesday's accident.

According to Fujii, the president's office has been kept apprised of Favela's condition by the Secret Service. Fujii added that Honolulu Mayor Mufi Hannemann also visited the family at the hospital on Thanksgiving.

Fujii called for volunteers, especially those with Favela's blood type, O-positive, to donate blood to the Blood Bank of Hawaii. He said that the Blood Bank's Dillingham Donor Center is open today and until 2 p.m. tomorrow to take donations. The Blood Bank typically is open one Sunday a month.

Reach Rick Daysog at rdaysog@honoluluadvertiser.com.