DVIDS – News – Live, Give, Save Lives: ASBP thanks lifesavers during National Blood Donor Month

Established by Executive Order of 1969, National Blood Donor Month was created to address winter blood shortages and to thank blood donors for supporting the nation’s blood donation program throughout the year. As January is National Blood Donor Month, the Armed Services Blood Program would like to thank all of our supporters and draw attention to the need for more blood donors.

Historically, the number of donations is lower during the holiday and winter seasons than at other times of the year. This decline in donations is caused by several factors. People take vacations, vacations are planned, schedules are changed, weather conditions are impeding, and/or they are unable to stay home due to illness. These factors combine to make fewer donors available, but the need for blood remains the same.

“National Blood Donor Month is the perfect time to thank the tens of thousands of ASBP blood donors who have supported military families in 2022,” said Navy Capt. Les Riggs, ASBP Division Head. . “These donors have had an immediate impact on military personnel, their families, retirees and veterans around the world in need of life-saving blood products. Blood supply is a preparatory mission. A global mission. We are grateful for the incredible impact we have made on our mission, a mission that will continue into 2023.”

ASBP donors understand how important giving is to the military community, and their dedication to the mission places them at the “heart” of the program. One such donor is her Ruth Stevick, who recently reached her 450th platelet donation while at the Pacific Northwest Military Service Blood Banking Center (ASBBC-PNW). Incredible commitment in both time and life saving donations. Another one of hers is a blood donor and a blood donation coordinator, HM2 Samantha Lane, belongs to the Assault Her Craft Her Unit 1 Infirmary and ASBP’s Naval Medical Center She donates to the San Diego Blood Donation Center. I’m here. Lane has been donating blood continuously for the last 10 years, but she also coordinates her blood donation efforts. She is motivated by personal impactful donations made to young families in need of blood products.

Donations provided by these ASBP lifesavers are used as vital tools to save lives and treat a variety of conditions. Blood products can be used to treat combatants far ahead in combat for emergency use wherever they are, as well as for scheduled surgeries at military treatment facilities. It requires dozens of units of blood, and one unit of blood can support a newborn for two weeks.

Military personnel are the largest group of blood donors for the ASBP, but you don’t have to be in the military to donate blood for the ASBP. Military families, civil servants, veterans and others regularly support the program.

“Blood donation is a gift of life. As health care providers, donors and recipients, it is up to us to talk about the importance of donating blood and donate blood when we can,” said Army Commander Chief Sgt. A non-commissioned officer in the Defense and Health Service said.

The world doesn’t care if we don’t have the tools needed to do the job, and one of the most important tools we have is blood. ”

Also, the full lifting of major travel deferrals in 2022 has made it easier for ASBPs to donate. It is a limitation of variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (vCJD), commonly referred to as “mad cow disease”. The postponement has affected many of the military personnel who are or have been stationed in Europe. Those previously affected may have the opportunity to donate again or for the first time!

ASBP is grateful to all donors and volunteers for living, giving and saving lives in 2022. Join his ASBP in celebrating National Blood Donor Month by scheduling a donation today at https://www.militaryblood.dod.mil.

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About the Military Blood Program

Since 1962, the Armed Services Blood Program (ASBP) has been the official blood program of the United States Armed Forces. ASBP’s mission is to provide high-quality blood products to support military medical efforts around the world. When and where you need it, from the battlefield to your local hospital. ASBP collects, processes, stores, transports, and distributes blood products to military personnel, their families, retirees, and veterans in peacetime and wartime. At the ASBP Enterprise View (Military Health Issues, Defense Health Service, Military Blood Program, and Combatant Command), we operate under common goals, metrics and procedures, working together to shape the future.

ASBP is one of four organizations tasked with providing a safe blood supply for the country. Our program also works closely with civilian counterparts when necessary.

For more information on ASBP or to book a donation, please visit www.militaryblood.dod.mil. To interact directly with his members of ASBP staff and stay up to date with the latest news, follow @militaryblood on Facebook, Twitter and @usmilitaryblood on Instagram.