'Give blood, give life'

Photo By Senior Master Sgt. Krystie Martinez | The 376th Expeditionary Medical Group is looking for donors for it's Walking Blood Donor program. (U.S. Air Force graphic/Staff Sgt. Lindsay Palson)  

TRANSIT CENTER AT MANAS, KYRGYZSTAN

08.10.2013

Story by Staff Sgt. Krystie Martinez 

376th Air Expeditionary Wing

TRANSIT CENTER AT MANAS, Kyrgyzstan - In the event of an emergency, there is no substitute for human blood. For this reason, the 376th Expeditionary Medical Group here has an emergency blood donor program in place.

"Without people being generous and kind enough to donate, the injured may not have the help they need," said Staff Sgt. Lindsay Palson, 376 EMDG NCO in charge of the laboratory and Walking Blood Bank program. "If you need blood it's going to be from an anonymous donor."

The screening process is approximately 15-minutes and consists of a questionnaire, and blood tests. Only a small amount of blood is withdrawn, so the donor can immediately continue normal functions, such as returning to duty or working out.

Once the results of the blood test confirm the donor is fit to give blood, he or she will be added to the donor roster.

Since a unit of blood is only good for 30-days, donors will only give blood when called upon during an emergency.

In the event of an emergency, Palson who is deployed from Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, will review the list of approved donors and recall those who fit the needed blood type of the casualty.

All blood types are accepted; however the program is low on AB and B.

Prescreening hours are on a walk-in basis Monday-Saturday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the 376 EMDG clinic. Anyone with questions can call DSN: 441-7024.

• Date Taken: 08.10.2013
• Date Posted: 08.22.2013 03:37
• Story ID: 112370
• Location: TRANSIT CENTER AT MANAS, KG