Bleeding for a good cause Published May 18, 2010 By Senior Airman Tong Duong 17th Training Wing Public Affairs GOODFELLOW AIR FORCE BASE, Texas -- Some people choose to close their eyes while others simply look the other way. Regardless of how they overcome the sight of blood, these servicemembers donate to help save lives. The United Blood Service Bloodmobile was at the Commissary parking lot May 14 to collect blood. While UBS members accepted whatever blood type they could, their main goal was to collect O Negative blood type due to a national shortage of this type. Members who carry the O Negative type are considered universal donors because their blood can be given to almost any patient. Only seven percent of the human population has this blood type, which also makes the type very rare. According to Ernie Givan, blood drive supervisor, UBS is a non-profit organization and the sole provider of blood to more than 10 hospitals in the local area. Donator numbers vary every time they collect on base. "Sometimes we get 20 and others days we get 100 units of blood," she said. "It varies, but we take whatever we can." Technicians collect 500 milliliters or one pint of blood, and depending on hospital requests, they can also collect double red cells. Double red cells are processed by running whole blood through a machine separating the red cells from the platelets and plasma. Whole blood is collected directly from the donor. After each blood drive, the collection is shipped to a lab in Lubbock, Texas, where it is screened and then distributed to local hospitals. UBS members can make as many as three stops a day and up to 100 stops a month to various locations. They come out to Goodfellow every couple weeks to different areas around base so everyone can have an opportunity to donate. The human body averages 10-12 pints of blood. It takes about six weeks to fully replace the pint of blood each donor gives; 24 hours to replace the fluid volume and six weeks to replace the red blood cells. Each time someone donates means another life is potentially saved, especially when a split-second can mean life of death, Ms. Givan explained. For Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class, Lauren Kowalski, Navy Analyst and Reporting Course student, donating blood is something she believes is the right thing to do. "When I was in high school, my grandmother told me that as an American it's my duty to do two things; donate blood and vote," she said. "Since I was 15 years old, I've probably donated at least 20 times." As an incentive, members who donated received a Goodfellow blood donor T-shirt and earned "Hero in Me" rewards points. These points can be used to redeem items such as movie tickets, DVDs and ice cream. While walk-ins are welcome, those who make and keep their appointment can get extra points. Go to www.BloodHero.com to keep track of points. Members wanting to donate must meet certain requirements: be at least 110 pounds, in good health and at least 16 years old with a parent's consent. Individuals 17 years old and older may donate without a parent's consent. Individuals must also wait at least eight weeks in between donating sessions and not be taking antibiotics. The next blood drive is May 25 from 9 a.m. to 3:15 p.m. and May 27 from 1 p.m. to 4:15 p.m. in the open area between buildings 519 and 523.
