Subscribe
What if you could do something small to make a big difference in someone else’s life? The Armed Services Blood Program allows you to do just that.
The ASBP is a joint operation among the military services and 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.
“More than 150,000 units of blood have been transfused on the battlefield in the past 12 years,” said Wendy Binder, public affairs specialist, ASBP.
“Since the program’s inception, more than 1.5 million units of blood have been transfused for battlefield illness and injury.”
The program is responsible for ensuring that all active duty, family members and retirees have blood if and when they should need it.
“Out of 22 donor centers in the program, we are one of only two donor centers that are required to freeze blood for the entire Department of Defense,” said Binder. “Frozen blood is important as it last 10 years and is strategically placed throughout the world to ensure active duty, family members and retirees have blood if and when they should need it.”
With the number of potential recipients, the ASBP has a big mission to fulfill and must hold blood drives on a regular basis.
“Because we are a military blood program, we are not allowed to collect or hold a blood drive on civilian or state-owned property,” said Binder. “This restricts our pool of potential donors significantly.”
With a limited amount of potential donors there are occasions where the ASBP doesn’t have enough blood or the right type in the area.
“In the event there is a blood shortage then blood will be sought out through civilian agencies,” said Binder. “This is not ideal as it takes precious time away from the patients who are in need of blood and blood products. There is a cost that comes with obtaining blood through civilian agencies. A unit of whole blood can cost anywhere from $350-$500 depending on availability and platelets can cost upwards of $800 - $1,000 per unit.”
Donations are accepted from every blood type. However, the ASBP asks for O- and O+ donations because O- is the universal donor and O+ is the most common blood type.
“The donation process is really easy and only takes about 30-45 minutes,” said Binder. “You can donate at any of the Armed Services Blood Drives aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, Marine Corps Air Station New River, Camp Johnson, MCAS Cherry Point, Air Force Base Seymour Johnson and any other military installations that are conducting a blood drive with the ASBP.”
Remember, anywhere and anytime you donate – whether it’s the ASBP or a civilian collection agency – you save lives.
To find locations and times for donations on base visit militaryblood.dod.mil or contact the Blood Donors Center aboard base at 450-3458.
| Date Taken: | 06.14.2018 |
| Date Posted: | 06.22.2018 15:49 |
| Story ID: | 281961 |
| Location: | CAMP LEJEUNE, NC, US |
| Web Views: | 43 |
| Downloads: | 1 |
This work, Making a difference -- one donation at a time, by Sgt Nicholas Lubchenko, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
LEAVE A COMMENT