Blood Drive

By Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Nardelito Gervacio, Navy Public Affairs Support Element West, Det. Whidbey Island

April 5, 2010 - OAK HARBOR, Wash. (NNS) -- Armed Services Blood Bank Center (ASBBC) Pacific Northwest conducted a blood drive on Naval Air Station (NAS) Whidbey Island March 29-31.

The blood drive was held in support of the Armed Services Blood Program (ASBP) at Fleet Readiness Center Northwest, the NAS Whidbey Island Gym and Fitness Center and Center for Naval Aviation Technical Training Unit Whidbey Island.

ASBBC is part of Madigan Army Medical Center in Fort Lewis, Wash., and travels to military bases throughout the northwestern United States collecting blood donations for military members.

The ASBP offers a front-line supply of blood to military members in need. The program relies on Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Marines to take care of their own through blood donation and collection efforts.

According to Victor L. Shermer, blood donor recruiter, the majority of the donations go to members serving overseas in locations like Iraq and Afghanistan.

"I try to give something, and I know someone out there will need blood," said Engineman 1st Class (SW) Edison Ramos, of Guam, 3M assistant assigned to Operations Ground Electronics Maintenance Division at Naval Air Station Whidbey Island. "I also feel that when I'm donating blood I'm helping someone out there, so I try to do this as often as I can."

The donation process starts with Sailors filling out personal information forms and medical history to ensure they are eligible to donate. Factors such as low red blood cell count, travel in known malaria areas and certain prescription medications can disqualify service members.

Next, vitals are taken to make sure the member is healthy enough to donate, and finally comes the donating.

Donors said it is important to give blood to ensure a continuous supply is available.

"I came today because I felt it was time to give blood because I have not given blood since 2005," said Aviation Electronics Technician Airman Jerry Byrne, of Temecula, Calif. "I feel this serves a bigger purpose than when I gave blood before. This supply goes directly to soldiers and Sailors like me. I hope someone else [would] give blood if I was hurt as well or needed it."

Because blood can be separated into three parts: platelets, plasma and red blood cells, it is possible for a pint of donated blood to save up to three lives.

Platelets can be stored for only five days, so the need for platelet donations is vast and continuous.

"It's nice seeing services come together and support the Armed Services Blood Program because by supporting the blood program they're actually helping their fellow service members that are put in harm's way," said Army 1st Lt. Paul R. Ambross, officer-in-charge of Mobile Blood Operations. "It's important that they recognize that anytime they support this, it's needed because if we do not get the support, we either have to buy blood products off the market or sometimes there may not be blood products for surgeries or other needs a doctor may see, so I'm happy with the turn-out."

Shermer said buying blood from civilian agencies can range up to $200 to $400, so service members donating blood is vital. "If we don't have blood downrange for our deployed personnel, someone is not going to make it, so it's very important to donate"

The ASBP was formed more than 50 years ago to provide blood for the military during peacetime and war. The program works to collect, process, distribute and transfuse blood worldwide.

The ASBBC collected 145 pints of blood from FRC NW and 45 pints from NAS Whidbey Island Gym and Fitness Center and 85 pints from Naval Aviation Technical Training Unit, totaling 275 pints.