Photo By Petty Officer 2nd Class Alexa Trafton | Construction Electrician 2nd Class Michael Finn attached to Naval Mobile Construction...... read more read more
GULFPORT, Miss. - Every two seconds, someone in the United States needs blood, amounting to more than 41,000 donations needed every day. With the demand for blood being so high, the American Red Cross was more than happy to schedule a blood drive at NMCB 74 workspaces on Dec. 19.
The Red Cross staff set a goal of 28 donors prior to their visit. Despite the typical battalion member’s hectic schedule, filled with General Military Training (GMT), formal classes, and construction projects, NMCB 74 was able to round up 32 participants. The event was coordinated through the battalion’s Religious Ministry Team (RMT). Chaplain LT Sutton called the drive a success, saying “Although we had some difficulties with the spaces that we were in, with no temperature control, the event itself was successful under the circumstances. It was a big lesson learned and our next one, we will most likely have in the ‘Blood Mobile’.” Despite being chilly outside, heat in the workspaces was roaring and because blood needs to be kept cool after a donation, workers had to quickly move it to the Red Cross Blood Mobile. Another issue was caused by vaccines that battalion members had received in preparation for the upcoming deployment. Several members were ineligible to donate due to the specific type of live virus that they received.
People came to the classroom in battalion workspaces to participate throughout the day. Some had heard of the drive in the plan of the week, others through word of mouth. A few even got calls from the Red Cross the day before the event. “I knew far in advance because I was called a week ahead of time and the day before,” said Lt. Marvin Albers, Assistant Officer in Charge, Detachment U.S. Northern Command. “And after I was a leader for a casualty collection point in Afghanistan, I know truly how high the need is.” One donation of blood can help save up to three lives, taking just 10 to 15 minutes of a donor’s time.
All in all, it was a successful event for NMCB 74. “I am extremely happy and extremely grateful for the flexibility of the Red Cross staff,” Religious Program Specialist 2nd Class Charles Hartley said. “And with them willing to be a little uncomfortable in such a small, warm space for a large part of the day.” The next battalion blood drive is planned to take place in March.
NMCB 74 is supporting national security strategy throughout U.S. Africa and U.S. European Commands by operating forward, ready and capable of supporting Navy and Joint Forces by building lasting relationships with host nations, paving the way for future partnerships. For more news on NMCB 74 visit www.navy.mil/local /nmcb74.
| Date Taken: | 12.12.2013 |
| Date Posted: | 01.06.2014 18:12 |
| Story ID: | 118880 |
| Location: | GULFPORT, MS, US |
| Web Views: | 73 |
| Downloads: | 1 |
This work, NMCB 74’s Fearless Blood Drive, by PO1 Ryan Williams, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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