|
WHIITEMAN AIR FORCE BASE, Mo. - With a mission to provide
life-saving blood to patients in times of crisis and disasters, the
American Red Cross is the largest supplier blood in the U.S.
Airmen, civilians and dependents alike contributed to that vital
mission by participating in a blood drive sponsored by Red Cross at
Whiteman Air Force Base, May 16 to 17, 2013.
Airman 1st Class Randolph Baez, 509th Civil Engineer Squadron blood
donor, shares a laugh with Deb Stewart, American Red Cross
collection technician, as she processes his blood at an American Red
Cross blood drive at Whiteman Air Force Base, Mo., May 16, 2013.
(U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Nick Wilson) |
Many donors chose to give blood with the desire to lend a
helping hand. Others donated because they had friends or
family members who would have lost their lives if it was not
for the generous donations of fellow citizens.
“Without a blood transfusion, my mother would have bled to
death when she was pregnant with her second child and I
never would have been here,” said Airman 1st Class Clinton
Cannon, Detachment 303 blood drive volunteer. “She collapsed
because she was experiencing severe internal bleeding from a
tubular pregnancy.”
Cannon said this event keeps him
coming back to either volunteer or donate blood every chance
he gets.
“If there is a vehicle accident or a
surgery, the blood people donate can be used to help a
patient in need,” said Betsy Bachofer, American Red Cross
donor recruitment representative. “One pint of blood can
save up to three lives.”
Bachofer said the blood is
also used in support of various Armed Forces and
humanitarian missions all over the world.
The
American Red Cross pioneered blood collections during World
War II, when blood was collected in the U.S. and shipped
overseas to support contingency operations, she said.
“We're saving lives,” said 1st Lt. David Cwiakala, 509th
Civil Engineer Squadron chief of operations support and
blood drive coordinator. “In the military, it's highly
likely that someday you or somebody you know is going to be
in a really bad spot on the other side of the world and
needs a donated unit of blood to stay alive.”
In
addition to being responsible for coordinating blood drives,
Cwiakala has also been donating blood since he was in
college.
“I've donated at every drive that we've had
here at Whiteman since I've been coordinating them,”
Cwiakala said. “I've organized six blood drives since June
2012.”
The first day of the blood drive the team of
American Red Cross collection technicians exceeded their
goal of 60 pints of blood, ending up with a total of 78
pints.
When American Red Cross holds blood drives,
they sell the units of blood they receive to local
hospitals, and they donate the proceeds to support various
armed services programs.
“Each year the American Red
Cross provides assistance to more than 2 million service
members and many of our nation's 24 million veterans,”
Bachofer said. “We work under partnership agreements with
the Air Force Aid Society, Army Emergency Relief, Coast
Guard Mutual Assistance and Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society
to provide financial aid to Service members 24/7.”
Bachofer said the financial support can be provided for
emergency travel funds, burial of loved ones and emergency
food and shelter, among other things.
“Through
partnerships with the Department of Defense and Veterans
Affairs, the Red Cross provides transition and reintegration
support to wounded warriors, to veterans and to their
families,” Bachofer said.
Volunteers donate pints of blood during an American Red Cross blood drive at Whiteman Air Force Base, Mo., May 16, 2013. With a mission to provide life-saving blood to patients in times of crises and disasters, the American Red Cross is the largest supplier of blood in the U.S. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Nick Wilson) |
By USAF Staff Sgt. Nick Wilson
Provided
through DVIDS
Copyright 2013
Comment on this article |
