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Message: Here's a great article I found at www.northwestnavigator.com: -- Armed Services Blood Bank Center (ASBBC) Pacific Northwest conducted a blood drive on Naval Air Station (NAS) Whidbey Island in support of the Armed Services Blood Program (ASBP) at Fleet Readiness Center Northwest (FRC NW), March 11, and the NAS Whidbey Island Gym and Fitness Center, March 12-13. ASBBC is part of Madigan Army Medical Center in Fort Lewis, Wash., and travels to military bases throughout the Northwestern United States collecting blood donations for military members. The majority of the donations go to members serving overseas in locations like Iraq and Afghanistan. ASBBC brought 11 personnel to assist in the drive. “After we get the blood it is sent to local hospitals like Navy Hospital Bremerton and Veteran Affairs hospitals and if they need it to be shipped overseas to the troops it goes there also. It goes all over the world just for the military,” said Staff Sgt. Joey Bradford, ASBBC. “We all never know when we might be in that situation where we need blood and it’s always good to know that it might someday come back to us and if someone else is in need it’ll be there for them.” To be eligible to donate, people have to go through a screening process to ensure both the individual and their blood is healthy. The screening process involves a form to be filled out by the donor, followed by an interview, and is concluded by a vitals check of blood pressure, temperature, and hemoglobin levels. Upon completion of these stations, the donor is considered fit to donate. Blood samples from each donor are then shipped overnight to Fort Hood, Texas, for testing to check for any abnormalities, such as diseases, which may disqualify the donation. Results from this testing are usually returned to ASBBC within 72 hours. “I’m not over in Iraq fighting so I might as well help out the people who are,” said Aviation Ordnanceman Airman Angelina Simowitz, Personnel Support Detachment Whidbey Island. It is possible for a pint of donated blood to save up to three lives since the blood can be separated into three parts: platelets, plasma, and red blood cells, each of which can be used to save a life in their own right. “It’s just an important thing, this blood goes to Iraq and those guys are losing blood every day and we’ve got to get it back in them somehow,” said Cryptologic Technician (Technical) 1st Class (NAC) Douglas Cline, Navy Information Operations Command Whidbey Island. “It’s important whether it’s through American Red Cross for natural disasters or through the ASBP, getting the blood over to the soldiers, it’s a life saving fluid and you can’t do anything more important on a day-to-day basis.” Some donors felt it was important to give blood to those in need and so there is a continual supply available in case something should happen to someone important to them. “I’m giving blood because I feel that someone else might benefit from it and what if my daughter needs blood someday,” said Dustin Showers, Navy Marine Corps Intranet Whidbey Island. After donations, Sailors are requested to stand by in the area to ensure they don’t encounter any problems and are given snacks to help get their blood sugar back up and are suggested for their next meal to be big and healthy. The ASBBC collected 115 units from FRC NW on March 11 and a total of 81 units on March 12 and 13, leading to their most productive blood drive so far this year. http://www.northwestnavigator.com/index.php/navigator/regionalnews/asbbc_pacific_nw_holds_successful_blood_drive/
