Photo By Petty Officer 1st Class Jessica Couvillier | A doctor explains what happens to blood after it is donated to Equipment Operator...... read more read more
CAMP COVINGTON, Guam - Seabees assigned to Naval Mobile Construction Battalion (NMCB) 133's Detachment Guam participated in a blood drive coordinated by Chief Hospital Corpsman Charlotte Reijo and the Armed Services Blood Program (ASBP).
The ASBP is tasked with the collection, processing, storage, and distribution of blood and blood products to ill or injured service members, veterans, and their families worldwide. By donating
about a pint of blood and less than 10 minutes of their time, these Seabees will be helping save lives around the world.
Construction Mechanic 1st Class Gary Phipps personally understands how important these blood drives are for everyone. Although his situation did not require a blood donation, Phipps stated "I believe in giving back. I've been laid up in the hospital before, so I know what it feels like to need help."
Throughout the day, regular donors like Phipps and along with others
who were donating for the very first time shuffled through the questioning and donating process, all sharing one common goal: making a difference and possibly saving a life. Because of the large turnout, that hope just might become a reality.
By the end of the blood drive, over 86 percent of the Seabees who signed up to participate were able to donate a unit of blood, which exceeded expectations.
"The original goal was 20 [units], which I honestly thought
would be a challenge," said Reijo. "So I was very pleasantly surprised to see that we not only met that goal, but exceeded it by more than double."
Though a few Seabees were unable to donate, it did not diminish their hopes to try again in the future.
"I'll try again the next time we have a blood drive," said Steelworker 3rd Class Rosa Lopez, who was not able to donate due to low hemoglobin.
Lopez may just get a second chance as Reijo hopes to coordinate one more blood drive with ASBP before the deployment concludes.
| Date Taken: | 09.20.2014 |
| Date Posted: | 10.16.2014 02:09 |
| Story ID: | 145164 |
| Location: | CAMP COVINGTON, GU |
| Web Views: | 89 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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