Photo By Sgt. William Hill | Hayley Coffey, from Morgantown, Ind., a case manager for Civilian Expeditionary...... read more read more
EDINBURGH, Ind. - Soldiers and civilians donated blood to take a break from their busy day, for the cookies afterwards and to help save lives during a Red Cross blood drive at Camp Atterbury Joint Maneuver Training Center March 29.
According to Brad Newell, from Bloomington, Ind., a donor recruitment representative for the Red Cross, said 26 pints of blood were donated by soldiers and civilian workers at Camp Atterbury.
"About 38,000 units of blood are needed every day and every two seconds somebody needs blood in the United States," Newell said.
He said the Red Cross collects one pint of blood per donor, and a person can donate every 56 days because that is how long it takes their red blood cells to replenish.
"Once the blood is collected it is then separated into three parts; platelets, red blood cells and plasma," Newell said. "So, each of those three parts serve a very specific purpose for patients in hospitals so those three blood products can go to three different patients and potentially could help save their lives."
He said it is important to donate blood because it is the one product that can't be made in a lab, and the only way to get blood for blood transfusions is through voluntary donations.
There are eight types of blood, and it was scientist Karl Landsteiner who discovered that people have different blood types and in 1930, was awarded the Nobel Prize for Physiology or Medicine for his discovery.
Out of the eight types, O negative and O positive are the most needed, because they can be given to most everyone.
"We always need all types of blood but O negative is universal and O positive can be given to most patients so the demand is always pretty high," said Newell. "If you are admitted to a hospital and you need to be rushed into surgery and need blood immediately, they don't always have time for the lab to match your blood type perfectly so they keep a lot of O negative blood types on hand to give to those victims."
Some of reasons why someone may need a blood transfusion are: cancer, accident victims and pregnancy complications. For example, a single car accident victim can require as many as 100 pints of blood according to the Red Cross.
There are many reasons to donate blood, according to Sgt. Sarah Buchanan, from Seymour, Ind., an administrator for Individual Replacement Deployment Operations at Camp Atterbury.
"To those of you who are too busy, it really does not take that long, just a few minutes," said Buchanan. "There are reasons for everyone to donate blood. For the people who love snacks, you get them afterward. For the people who love drama, well you never know, you might see someone pass out; and for the people that just have a big heart, you could save some one's life one day."
For Kathi Guffy, from Martinsville, Ind., a Plans, Analysis, and Integration Office specialist at Camp Atterbury, she said her reasons for donating blood was because she wanted to support the Red Cross and help people in need.
"I wanted to donate blood because it was for a good cause, and the Red Cross said they could use it within less than a month," said Guffy. "So, if I can help out, then that is what I would like to do."
Hayley Coffey, from Morgantown, Ind., a case manager for Civilian Expeditionary Workforce, said she has donated more than 20 times in her life, and it is something she just does.
"I always donate blood because it is very important to me," said Coffey. "The benefit of a little amount of pain is worth saving someone's life."
Lt. Col. David Ellis with the Department of Human Resources at Camp Atterbury, said his reason for donating blood is very personal to him.
"I donate every time there is an opportunity here and I have donated gallons of blood in my life time," said Ellis. "Well, I lost my mother due to cancer and I have always given blood or platelets, as a result of that, I donate to help the people who need the care. So it has always been something personal to me."
Newell said donating blood is a good thing no matter the reason, and when you donate blood with the Red Cross you are not just supporting their blood effort but the organization.
"The Red Cross is first responders for most disasters, we have emergency relief training, community service and military service," he said.
"Ever since the Red Cross was founded, [in 1881], it has worked synonymously with the military, and connecting military personal overseas with their families here, helping with care packages, and we also help locate soldiers who are missing in action. So, it is nice to donate with the Red Cross because you are taking part in the big picture."
A person can think of many reasons not to donate blood, because they are too busy at work or are afraid of needles, but that one pint of blood could save three people's lives.
Last year according to the Red Cross, Camp Atterbury donated 130 pints of blood, helping an estimate 390 people. Think of reasons to donate and give blood at the next Red Cross blood drive scheduled for May 16. To see if you are eligible to give blood, visit the Red Cross website at www.redcrossblood.org.
| Date Taken: | 04.04.2012 |
| Date Posted: | 04.04.2012 14:43 |
| Story ID: | 86241 |
| Location: | CAMP ATTERBURY, IN, US |
| Web Views: | 95 |
| Downloads: | 1 |
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