Military Blood Donors Make Generous Contributions

American Forces Press Service ^ | Gerry Gilmore

[SandRat]

WASHINGTON, Dec. 27, 2006 – It’s a little-known fact that about 20 percent of servicemembers donate blood, compared to less than 5 percent of the civilian populace, the director of the U.S. military’s blood program said here today.

This year, the Armed Services Blood Program will collect about 160,000 units or pints of blood products, Navy Cmdr. Michael C. Libby said during a Pentagon Channel interview.

“That’s 20 percent more than last year, and that’s twice as much as we did in 2001,” Libby said. That’s possible, he said, because of the great generosity of the program’s donors.

National Volunteer Blood Donor Month is in January. That is the traditional time, Libby said, when the ASBP salutes its donors for their generosity.

“It is because of them that the program is very successful and we can support our warfighters,” Libby said.

The ASBP collects blood only from servicemembers, government civilians, retirees and their family members. The U.S. military needs blood every day for critically injured troops, cancer patients, premature infants and other uses, Libby said.

The program manages 18 stateside blood donor centers, he said, and four overseas centers. Donors normally give about a pint of blood at a sitting.

Most people who are eligible to donate provide blood to the program, Libby said. Only a small percentage may be restricted from doing so because of their travel to certain countries or the taking of certain medications.

Specific information on these conditions may be found on the program’s Web site, www.militaryblood.dod.mil.

Blood is always needed, Libby said, noting blood products normally must be replenished about 42 days after being collected. Frozen blood, on the other hand, can be stored for years.

Related Sites:
Armed Services Blood Program

[SandRat]

LET'S ROLL UP OUR SLEEVES AND PITCH IN TOO!

[SandRat]

GIVE BLOOD! BE A HERO TOO!

[Finalapproach29er]

I did yesterday; the red cross bloodmobile was in town.

[sgtbono2002]

I dont have a problem donating blood. Its a good thing. However I seem to remember giving blood when I as in the military for an afternoon off.

[Jacquerie]

Once upon a time about 30 years ago, a couple dozen cars were involved in a massive pileup not far from the US Naval Academy. IIRC, all Midshipmen with O- blood were ordered to report to sick bay where Corpsmen were waiting to drain a gallon or two of blood. Orders are orders. It wasn't until a day later that the mids even knew why they gave blood. We never found out how many lives were helped, but were proud that some MD at the school acted quickly and saved lives.

[Traveler59]

What is regrettable is that more military would donate, but are excluded because of where we were stationed. I used to give every 9 weeks until the new exclusion list came out, now I can't.

-Traveler

[El Gato]

I work on an Army post. They wouldn't take my blood, due to one of the medications I take. One civil servant, and retired Army Major, donates at close to minimum interval allowed, and skinny as he is, he doesn't have that much to spare. You should his collection of "grenades", smallish rubber ones, that they give him each time he donates.

[El Gato]

What is regrettable is that more military would donate, but are excluded because of where we were stationed.

That really surprised me when I found out about it. The other two employees of my employer who work on the post also cannot donate. One was stationed in the wrong place when he was in the Army, the other is a dependent of a now deceased member, and they were stationed in several of the "bad" places. All of us would donate if they'd let us.

[El Gato]

Here are the main restrictions, as y'all can see many of those are bound to affect a large number of service members and their families, especially the old "Cold Warriors"

Stationed in Europe for more than six months between 1980 and 1996

Visited north of Seoul in Korea in the last two years

Visited Iraq or Afghanistan in the last year

Had a body part (other than ears) pierced in the last year

Had a tattoo in the last year

[Traveler59]

Stationed in Europe for more than six months between 1980 and 1996

They got me on this one.

the old "Cold Warriors"

Have you been talking with my kids?? ;)

-Traveler