Grinder
12 August 2003, 14:36
WASHINGTON, Aug. 6, 2003 - The Armed Services Blood Program (http://www.tricare.osd.mil/asbpo) 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.)
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.)