Blood drive to gear up

  • Published
  • By Master Sgt. Allison Day
  • 35 Fighter Wing
MISAWA AIR BASE, Japan --  Members of the Department of Defense's Armed Services Blood Bank Center, Okinawa, Japan are scheduled to arrive here Tuesday for a scheduled blood drive Wednesday and Thursday from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at the Potter Fitness Center.

"The blood bank is the sole source of blood products for the entire U.S. Pacific Command's 18 medical treatment facilities," said Tracy Parmer, blood donor recruiter for the ASBBC. "Each day, numerous patients at military hospitals need blood and we support 185,000 beneficiaries. One donation can help treat multiple patients."

Once blood is taken from a donor it can be separated into four parts giving many people a second chance at life.

"Blood is separated by the red cells, which helps patients who have been involved in an accident and patients with blood disorders, the platelets which control bleeding in patients with leukemia and other cancers, the plasma which helps patients suffering from burns and cryoprecipitate (a human blood component from fresh frozen plasma) which helps patients with hemophilia," said Ms. Parmer.

The number of individuals who can give blood has been lessened by military deployments throughout the Asia-Pacific region to include Iraq and Afghanistan.

"These individuals may not be able to give blood for one year," said Ms. Parmer. "That's why it's important for those who are eligible to take time to give blood - to give a part of their life to save another."

The blood products that the ASBBC collects are routinely shipped throughout Japan, Korea, Guam, Hawaii and numerous ships throughout the U.S. Pacific Command area of responsibility, she added.

The last time the ASBBC was in Misawa was two years ago.

"Our goal is to make sure that people stationed in the Pacific know who we are and that we're here to help them," said Ms. Parmer. "We need the support of every eligible donor in Misawa and throughout the Pacific to help us continue to save lives. We can only draw blood from active duty members, DoD civilians and their dependents. Once people realize there is a need they are usually good at helping out. And by donating blood regularly, these donors help ensure there is always enough blood available for people in need."