KMC keeps blood banks full

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Jordan Castelan
  • 86th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
RAMSTEIN AIR BASE, Germany --  A blood drive was held Tuesday near the Ramstein Southside Fitness Center.

The blood drive was hosted by the Armed Services Blood Program and put together by the 352nd Network Warfare Squadron, Detachment 1.

Collecting only from within the military community, the ASBP keeps all donated blood for use within the extended military family.

"It's extremely important" said Emily Hayes, an American Red Cross worker. "It's our part to help, trying to do the best for our people who are serving."

Parallel to Ramstein's mission of providing combat airlifts and operating the Air Force's premier installation to enable and assure strategic capabilities worldwide, the ASBP aims to be an outstanding quality, cost effective blood system providing blood products and services wherever and whenever needed.

"I donate as often as I can," said Staff Sgt. Jennifer Kellar, 786th Force Support Squadron, retirement and separations NCOIC. "It's incredibly reassuring that my donation is helping someone within our small community somewhere."

A single donation of blood can save up to three lives. However, the maximum shelf life of red blood cells is 42 days, creating a constant need for new donations.

"We have at least three blood drives a week," said Spc. Ryan Kim, Landstuhl Regional Medical Center Charlie Company medical lab technician. "We send the units of blood all over Europe and Africa and are always looking for people with O+ and O- blood types."

Members of the 352nd NWS Det. 1 stayed focused alongside the members of the Red Cross and the ASBP in assisting any way they could.

"All this blood goes to other service members," said Senior Airman Hope Serviss, 352nd NWS cyberspace operations controller. "We are supporting our own through this."

For more information on how to donate to the ASBP go to www.militaryblood.dod.mil.