Type O Blood Donors Badly Needed

American Forces Press Service ^ | Aug. 6, 2003 | Special to American Forces Press Service

[Dubya]

WASHINGTON, Aug. 6, 2003 – The Armed Services Blood Program needs eligible Type O blood donors to support ongoing military operations worldwide and to replenish the military's frozen blood reserves.

"Type O donors are the first line of defense for trauma victims. Until a blood type can be verified, Type O blood is used to keep trauma victims alive," said Air Force Lt. Col. Ruth Sylvester, Armed Services Blood Program director. "Once their blood type is determined, type-specific blood is transfused. But without Type O blood available, many patients would never make it until the test results came back."

A single battlefield injury victim can require more than 40 units of blood in an emergency. Type O donors are especially important to readiness because their blood can be transfused safely for all blood types, especially in remote areas where it's not possible to test for blood type.

The Armed Services Blood Program also needs Type O blood to maintain its frozen blood reserve. The military maintains a supply of frozen red blood cells to use when fresh blood is not immediately available. Since frozen blood can be safely stored for up to 10 years, it ensures that blood is always readily available to meet the military's needs worldwide.

Extending the shelf life of blood from 42 days (for liquid red cells) to 10 years in strategic locations enables the blood program to make frozen blood available until the supply of liquid blood begins to flow. But storage requirements and thawing equipment needed to use frozen blood prevent it from being used everywhere.

Making the present need more acute is that the military blood donor centers can only collect blood from active duty service members, government employees, retirees and military family members. That excludes many Operation Iraqi Freedom veterans, who are deferred from donating for one year because they served in areas where malaria is endemic. This makes regular donations from eligible donors critical.

"We're always thankful to our donors," Sylvester said. "We know that blood donations save lives every day. Repeat donors and those who ask that we call them when their blood type is needed help ensure we have a consistent supply of all blood types. They're literally lifesavers when an urgent need arises."

Blood program officials encourage potential donors or those who could sponsor a group blood drive to contact their local military blood collection facility.

(Based on a release from Army Surgeon General's office, executive agent for the Armed Services Blood Program.)

http://www.defenselink.mil/news/Aug2003/n08062003_200308061.html

[Tony Niar Brain]

Duplicate... http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/959393/posts

[lilylangtree]

Forwarded your post to a relative who donates blood and has "O" blood type.

[Dubya]

Thanks. I did a by title search and it didn't show up. I'm glad Cowgirl put it on here sooner.

[Dog Gone]

military blood donor centers can only collect blood from active duty service members, government employees, retirees and military family members.

That seems like a pretty dumb restriction.

[SamKeck]

I donated a unit of Type O (pos) yesterday and designated that it go to the regional Naval Hospital. It didn't hurt at all; took less than 45 minutes start to finish to do it; got fed a great snack afterwards; and, on my way out the door, they gave me a patriotic themed t-shirt as a bonus.

[Dubya]

Thanks for caring.

[Dubya]

Yes it does seem kind of dumb.

[Bluegrass Federalist]

I'm O-neg. Does the military collect separately from the normal Blood Center? Where would I start looking for a donation center?

[Dubya]

Thanks for the info. I need a new T Shirt. I give O blood at Carter Blood Center in Ft. Worth.

Good for you for caring enough to give blood.

[Bluegrass Federalist]

I hit that link. The closest centers are hours away. Can I designate at the local blood center?

[warchild9]

I donate O Negative regularly. Someone told me that it's used mostly for infants, which I think is pretty cool. I had no idea we could designate where our blood goes to.

[Dubya]

I can give at Carter Blood Center in Ft. Worth and they claim to send it to them.

[Churchillspirit]

I have been a blood donor for thirty five years (O-neg), but my blood is not acceptable now because I lived in the UK till 1983.

Is this carrying caution too far?

[ABG(anybody but Gore)]

How's about former Nat'l Guard types? I'm B- which is always hard to come by.

[Dubya]

Sometimes when a friend or someone in need of blood ask for it, I donate (designate) it to them. If they don't hsve insurance to cover the cost they get a little credit for what people give them. We give blood at our Church and Lodge.

[Dubya]

It sure seems to me like it is.

[Dubya]

Someone would like to have your donated blood I'm sure.

[nightdriver]

"Since frozen blood can be safely stored for up to 10 years, it ensures that blood is always readily available to meet the military's needs worldwide."

TEN YEARS??

This makes me all the more angry at the Red Cross destroying all that blood donated right after 9/11 just because they couldn't use it immediately.

What am I missing?

[Dubya]

Me too. I don't believe I'll ever forget the RED CROSS doing that.