Army Pvt. Dylan Tyahla donates his 10th pint of blood at Fort Gordon, Ga. Tyahla will be able to continue as a regular Armed Services Blood Program donor at his next duty assignment in Okinawa. Photo by Paul Clayton
Military Blood Program Seeks Holiday Donors
American Forces Press Service
FALLS CHURCH, Va., Dec. 23, 2003 – The Armed Services Blood Program urges eligible donors to give blood this holiday season to ensure supplies are available to treat service members, retirees and their families.
The blood program organization collects, processes and distributes blood and blood products for the Department of Defense. Blood collected is used in military hospitals and sent to locations worldwide to save the lives of those wounded in action.
During the holidays and well into January, military services' and civilian blood collection centers experience a drop in blood collection, noted spokeswoman Lyn Kukral.
Air Force Lt. Col. Ruth Sylvester, Armed Services Blood Program Office director, agreed. "There are a lot of reasons for the decrease," Sylvester explained.
"It is a busy time of year, many people take vacations and some regular donors may have a cold or the flu, making them temporarily unable to donate," she said. "Unfortunately, the number of people who need blood does not decline. Cancer, surgery and trauma patients at home and those injured abroad cannot wait for blood."
And don't forget the public sector either. I have an appointment for Friday to give blood...a gift of life easily given.