Platelet donation program is first at BAF

Courtesy Photo | Army Cpl. Christopher LeRoy, 932nd Blood Support Detachment blood technician, checks Army Sgt. Jennifer Skebong, 583rd Medlog Company's arm to ensure her blood platelet donation is going as intended. For the first time in the history of Afghanistan, blood platelets are being collected in-country for treatment of critically injured patients. Blood platelets are one of the key blood components necessary to stimulate clotting and stop bleeding.  

BAGRAM AIR FIELD, AFGHANISTAN

07.06.2007

Courtesy Story

Combined Joint Task Force - 82 PAO

By Senior Airman Dilia DeGrego
Combine Joint Task Force-82 Public Affairs Office

BAGRAM AIRFIELD, Afghanistan — They are charged with a mission unique to that of any coalition force service member in theater, and they are the first of their kind in the Army to accomplish this mission.

The eight-member team from the 932nd Blood Support Detachment, Task Force Med, is the first to collect blood platelets. These platelets are one of the key components necessary to stimulate blood clotting, which stops bleeding, enabling treatment of critically injured patients in Afghanistan.

In an effort to continue improving medical care for those in need, the team began working to make this donation program possible two-years ago.

"[Medical personnel] started doing this in Iraq because the whole blood demand for platelets was so high," said Army Maj. Barbara Bachman, 932nd BSD. "Platelets are only good for five days from when you collect them to when they expire, so generally, the Department of Defense didn't want to bring platelets into theater because they are so hard to maintain."

"Drawing whole blood for platelets is only good for eight hours and that's an even shorter shelf-life," Bachman continued. "So after [medical personnel] saw how much whole blood they were using [because of the need for platelets], they started [doing platelet donations], decreasing the number of whole blood and emergency draws by 50 percent."

According to Bachman, the 932nd BSD then planned to also bring it to Afghanistan. Their idea was to bring the same level of [medical] care to Afghanistan that Iraq is providing.

"So far we have about 200 people on our database, which is great, but we need more," Bachman said. "If there were to be a mass casualty or a couple of 'bleeders,' they can get 50 units or more, essentially wiping out our whole database."

The team began collecting platelets from eligible donors June 8 and is looking to build their donor database.

"We encourage everyone to get screened," added Army Sgt. Jackie S. Mims, 932nd BSD blood technician and native of Birmingham, Ala. "Many times people may think they are not eligible to donate, but they are later surprised to find that they are, just get screened."

Bachman explained due to the team's small size, they have a four-person team designated to visit various locations on Bagram Airfield every Saturday to ensure a constant flow of possible donors is acquired and assure those interested in donating are screened in a timely manner.

The screening process takes 25 minutes and requires the possible donor to answer a series of personal medical history questions, as well as give a blood sample. Once the screening is complete, the blood sample is sent back to the U.S. for blood typing and testing. The possible donor will know within two weeks whether or not they are eligible to donate. If eligible, their name will be added to the platelet donation database and they may be encouraged to donate on a regular basis every two-to-three days.

The actual platelet donation usually lasts between one-and-a-half to two hours. A donor's blood is drawn into an aphaeresis device where it is spun in the centrifuge. This removes the platelets for collection and the remaining blood components are cycled back into the patient. The body replenishes those platelets within 48 hours.

"[The platelets] go to anyone who needs them," Bachman said, a Maple Heights, Ohio, native. "[Medical personnel] don't differentiate when someone needs blood. They give them blood."

"Our ultimate goal is to save lives," added Army Cpl. Christopher LeRoy, 932nd BSD blood technician from Fort Hood, Texas. "[Donating platelets] saves lives."

To continue their trend of firsts, Bachman and her team are in the process of becoming the first platelet distribution hub for forward operating bases and coalition forces in Afghanistan and also plan to be able to store frozen red blood cells, enabling them to be stored frozen for up to 10 years.

• Date Taken: 07.06.2007
• Date Posted: 07.06.2007 12:52
• Story ID: 11154
• Location: BAGRAM AIR FIELD, AF