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Give blood; send a lifeline

  • Published
  • By Maj. Jean Ruddell
  • 88th Medical Group Clinical Laboratory
WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Ohio (AFMCNS) --  Take the time to donate blood when your base hosts a blood drive and send a lifeline to the troops.

What do front-line Airmen or Soldiers experience when fighting for life? Only they know for certain, but a lifeline begins, for them, with their buddies in the field and continues with the help of medics, transport crew members, surgeons and countless others.

Throughout the struggle, blood is simply necessary. That wounded military member counts on you to donate blood, every time you can.

During the first quarter of 2005, troops received approximately 1,215 blood transfusions while deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. The Armed Services Blood Program ensures that blood is available for all members of the military. At Air Force, Army and Navy installations, blood donor centers collect and deliver blood wherever needed around the globe.

The blood donor center here is one of two operational Air Force blood donor centers. A third donor center, located at Keesler Air Force Base, Miss., is temporarily out of commission because of damage inflicted by Hurricane Katrina.

If you are an eligible blood donor, roll up your sleeve and send a lifeline to Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Marines on the front line. For more information on the Armed Services Blood Program, visit http://www.militaryblood.dod.mil.