US NAVY COMPLETES WALKING BLOOD BANK FOR ROMANIAN COALITION PARTNERS

Photo By Lt. Matthew Berniard | NATO ROLE 3 US Navy Nurse and Corpsman with the Romanian Forces they have enrolled in the walking blood bank program  

KANDAHAR AIRFIELD, AFGHANISTAN

06.02.2016

Story by Lt. Matthew Berniard 

NATO Role III Multinational Medical Unit

After weeks of work, the laboratory team in conjunction with US Navy nurses and corpsmen have completed the first ever walking blood bank program for a coalition partner. Traumatic injuries in the forward deployed environment often require blood transfusions. Normally, when blood is donated it is separated into three components; packed red blood cells, fresh frozen plasma, and platelets, for storage and distribution. Like all good things, blood products have expiration dates. The shelf life of red bloods cells is around 42 days, while platelets only last 5 days after their collection. Knowing the supply constraints of forward operations, one can see how a shortage of any or all blood products can easily occur.

For years, the US has established emergency blood donation programs, referred to as walking blood banks, to prevent critical shortages of blood. Deployed US uniformed service members that meet eligibility criteria are enrolled as voluntary donors. Should a situation arise in which more blood is needed than is on hand at the medical facility, a donor call out occurs and pre-screened members report to the medical unit to donate whole blood. The whole blood products are screened and typed for compatibility and then delivered to the in need personnel. The walking blood bank program ensures that when life saving blood is needed, it is readily available.

Since taking command of the NATO Role 3 at Kandahar Airfield, the Oscar rotation has been hard at work establishing a walking blood bank program for our Romanian partners. Over the past month, 43 Romanian volunteers have enrolled in the walking blood bank program including the highest ranking Romanian Officer in Afghanistan, Colonel BaJan. This is the first time the Kandahar NATO Role 3 MMU has established a walking blood bank program for a partner nation.

• Date Taken: 06.02.2016
• Date Posted: 06.02.2016 11:33
• Story ID: 199763
• Location: KANDAHAR AIRFIELD, AF