Blood drive

Army Sgt. James Ervin, U.S. Army Europe Blood Donor Center supply NCO, packs tubes of blood for further testing during the 723rd Air Mobility Squadron's blood drive Dec. 13 at the 64th Replacement Battalion in the Ramstein Passenger Terminal. Six tubes of blood are taken from each donor so that nine tests can be done to detect diseases such as the Human Immunodeficiency Virus, hepatitis or West Nile Virus.

Blood drive

Petty Officer 2nd Class Brian King, from the U.S. Army Europe Blood Donor Center, inserts the needle into the arm of Senior Airman Christopher O'Dai, 723rd Air Mobility Squadron counter measures technician, during the 723rd AMS blood drive Dec. 13 at the 64th Replacement Battalion in the Ramstein Passenger Terminal.

Eligible blood donors bear the weight

Published Jan. 5, 2007
By Christine June
U.S. Army Garrison Kaiserslautern

LANDSTUHL REGIONAL MEDICAL CENTER, Germany -- Eligible American blood donors in Europe are doing an amazing job, said Sgt. Terry Keith, U.S. Army Europe Blood Donor Center mobile collections NCOIC.

The USAREUR Blood Donor Center here is the only Armed Services Blood Program in Europe. About 90 percent of the blood collected by the center stays in Europe with about 80 percent of it going to Landstuhl Regional Medical Center for wounded service members, said Mike Peacock, the center's blood donor recruiter. He said the remainder goes where there is a need, including possibly downrange.

Restrictions such as travel to Iraq and Afghanistan and residing in Europe for more than five years limit the number of eligible American donors in overseas military communities, making blood collections here "quite a challenge," said Sergeant Keith, who has been doing blood collections in Europe for almost four years.

"Those who are eligible actually have the responsibility, a heavy responsibility, to take up the slack and donate blood for everyone who gets hurt," he said.

Sergeant Keith said less than 18 percent of the population in the U.S. donates to the country's blood program. The percentage is slightly higher here, which he said shows eligible donors are carrying the responsibility for providing blood for wounded service members, general surgeries and emergencies.

"They (eligible donors) are doing a wonderful job, and they need to continue to do it," said Sergeant Keith.

Blood collections are a never-ending need here, said Sergeant Keith. He cites not only the increasing wartime requirement for LRMC, but also the fact that blood is a perishable item. Blood expires in 42 days, and eligible donors can give blood every 56 days.

The center conducts blood drives at military communities throughout Europe twice a week. Units sponsor drives to make it as easy as possible for its personnel to donate, said Mr. Peacock. He added these drives are usually open to the public.

Senior Airman Michelle Beck, 723rd Air Mobility Squadron's unit blood drive representative, sponsored her third unit blood drive Dec. 13 at the 64th replacement battalion in the Passenger Service Center on Ramstein Air Base.

"This is for the troops who are injured so they can have a chance to live," said Airman Beck.

Peacock said almost 50 donors donated blood at this drive.

One of those donors, Airman 1st Class Adam Shelby, 723rd AMS air transportation technician, kept his eyes away from the needle in his arm the whole time his was giving blood, which usually takes about five to seven minutes.

"I may not like needles, but I think I need to do it (donate blood)," he said. "If I ever need it, I would hope somebody would donate his blood."

For more information on donor eligibility and blood drive schedules, visit the center's Web site at http://www.militaryblood.dod.mil.