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BREMERTON, Wash. - When Naval Hospital Bremerton holds the next Armed Services Blood Program military blood drive on Dec. 23, 2015, the majority of the donated blood will again support deployed service members.
Jeffrey Woods, of NHB’s Third Party Collections and a regular donor, recognizes that fact. Since 2000, he has routinely donated at NHB’s quarterly military blood drives that are held in conjunction with the Armed Services Blood Bank Center - Pacific Northwest. When he gives on Dec. 23, it will be the 52nd unit he has shared.
“I do it because it’s the right thing to do. Supporting our Armed Services Blood Program means that we’re directly giving to those in uniform during their time of need,” said Woods, who started giving during his 12 years in the U.S. Marine Corps.
Compiled statistical evidence shows that approximately one patient out of seven who enter a hospital like NHB will need blood. That’s stateside-relevant data, not related to forward operating bases, combat outposts and trauma team settings in Afghanistan, where NHB still has staff members on Individual Augmentee status.
Recipients from a military blood drive remain primarily unknown, especially down range. It’s the nature of the collection process. There are, however, some beneficiaries of the needed life-giving and life-saving product who unwittingly become a vivid example of how vital blood and blood products are in keeping a wounded service member alive.
One such is Cpl. Mark Fidler, who deployed with 3rd Battalion, 7th Marines, in September 2011. He was just six days into his deployment in Helmand province, Afghanistan, when his entire world was blown asunder.
His is a harrowing, bloody story. Fidler was severely injured by an improvised explosive device. He lost both legs. Complications followed after multiple surgeries. The doctors amputated up to his pelvis. He received 120 units in one day and another 68 units the day after. Twenty units of blood were prepared for him every time he went into surgery, and there were multiple surgeries during his initial recovery period.
He was not expected to survive. But he did. The doctors who worked to save him remarked, “Without people donating blood, he would not have lived.”
“Our primary mission is to support contingency operations. After meeting that requirement, then whatever is remaining goes to military treatment facilities and VA hospitals. Every drop helps,” said Victor L. Shermer, Armed Services Blood Bank Center - Pacific Northwest donor recruiter and Public Affairs officer.
More than 150,000 units of blood have been transfused on the battlefield in the last 12 years. Along with battlefield needs, blood and blood products are needed to support all active duty, retirees and military families, from cancer patients to surgical patients. Forty or more units of blood may be needed for a single trauma victim.
NHB has collected 155 units so far for 2015 and holds a unique significance with the program. According to Shermer, NHB is special because the Armed Services Blood Bank Center - Pacific Northwest was originally in Fort Ord, California, but when Fort Ord closed, the center relocated to NHB for a short period before being moved to Madigan Army Medical Center in 1993.
“We have a 20-plus year history with NHB. There are many employees at NHB that donate on a regular basis with us,” Shermer said.
HM3 Sabrina Brooks took over as NHB’s current Blood Drive coordinator in 2014, in charge of coordinating and handling all communication requirements on a pending blood drive. She visits clinics and wards, posts notes and flyers, shares with department heads and division officers, and even engages in a constant word-of-mouth campaign.
“These blood drives are crucial. Blood is needed daily to support local medical military operations as well as deployed operations. Giving blood saves many lives by separating the unit of blood into different products to administer. So you are not only saving one life but many lives by donating a unit of blood,” stated Brooks, a Marion, South Dakota, native and Laboratory Department Technician.
One pint (or unit) of blood can save up to three lives, and that unit can be separated into several components: Red blood cells, plasma, platelets and cryoprecipitate. The red blood cells carry oxygen to the body’s organs and tissues. Plasma is a mixture of water, protein and salts, and makes up 55 percent of actual blood volume. Platelets promote blood clotting and give those with leukemia and forms of cancer the chance to live. Cryoprecipitate is collected from plasma that has been frozen, then thawed, and acts as a coagulation agent.
The overall mission of the Armed Services Blood Bank Center is to operate a Tri-Service staffed regional blood donor center which collects, tests, and distributes blood and blood components in support of contingency and peacetime operations worldwide. Brooks and others assigned to NHB Laboratory Department, as well as the actual donors, are helping to make that happen.
“The most gratifying part of this duty is that I am supporting my brothers and sisters who are deployed by getting the blood donations they need as well as taking care of their families blood supply needs while they are away,” said Brooks.
The Armed Services Blood Bank Center - Pacific Northwest is also planning a Donor Appreciation Day event for January, 2016 and Naval Hospital Bremerton will help with behind the scene preparation.
“About 100 donors plus the commands we recognize are invited to attend the Donor Appreciation Day ceremony,” said Shermer.
Woods attests he has received invites in the past, but has demurred each time.
“It was nice of them to ask, but this is not about recognition. I donate because it’s always going to be needed,” Woods said.
NHB’s support of the Armed Services Blood Program was recognized in 2014 when two members of the Laboratory department - Hospital Corpsman 2nd Class Roberto Mangahas and Hospital Corpsman 3rd Class Matthew Naffin – were acknowledged for their volunteer efforts.
The actual steps in the entire process start with going over a donor’s medical history; then a quick physical; followed by the actual donation; wrapped up with a brief rest.
“Helping to organize blood drives means the world to me, because I could be that one person that gets an O-negative donor to donate and that could save anyone. When I see the units I see lives that are being saved,” Brooks said.
For the upcoming NHB Blood Drive, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Dec. 23, those who wish to donate can simply walk in that day, or even go to www.militaryblood.dod.mil and set up a profile and make an appointment.
Shermer notes that a person can donate every 56 days.
“Every drop helps,” reiterated Shermer.
| Date Taken: | 12.16.2015 |
| Date Posted: | 12.16.2015 16:18 |
| Story ID: | 184695 |
| Location: | BREMERTON , WA, US |
| Hometown: | MARION, SD, US |
| Web Views: | 87 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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