SEYMOUR JOHNSON AIR FORCE BASE, N.C. -- Seymour Johnson Air Force Base in Goldsboro, North Carolina, has been holding blood drives with the Naval Hospital Camp Lejeune Blood Donor Center since February 2013. With multiple blood drive coordinators over the years, the blood drives have continually grown. This trend has remained the same as a new coordinator, Airman Anthony Federico, conducts his first blood drive with the Armed Services Blood Program.
“This was my first blood drive with the ASBP,” Federico said. “It’s a good feeling knowing you coordinated a blood drive that has such a huge impact with the armed forces. Being able to donate is an even greater feeling because that blood someday in the near/far future will have the potential to save a life.”
These blood drives produce on average about 35-40 units collected per drive and are still growing. Federico’s drive was a huge success with 54 people registered and 47 units of blood collected. Since a single donation has the potential to save up to three lives, that means that 140 potential lives could be saved.
With a busy schedule in front of him, Federico was still able to make the commitment in support of the ASBP and NHCL donor center.
“I think the ASBP is a great program that supports many components around the world,” Federico said. “Seeing that they support not only the Air Force but the Navy, Army and Marines as well, (that means) more blood units to collect and more lives saved, which is awesome.”
Not only did Federico put together a blood drive, he donated blood as well.
“Just the fact that I had a chance to coordinate something that has a huge factor in potentially saving a life is what motivated me,” he said. “Coordinating it was easy for that reason and donating on the other hand was even easier. Knowing that my blood being donated has such an effect on someone’s life is such a great feeling to me.”
Federico said he looks forward to supporting the ASBP in the future.
“Any chance I get that could impact someone’s life in need, I take it,” he said. “I am thankful I got such an opportunity.”
The NHCL BDC would like to thank Federico who went above and beyond in his role as blood drive coordinator and donor. His extraordinary character and strong work ethic have shown through in all the ways he strives to help those in need. The Naval Hospital Camp Lejeune Blood Donor Center thanks him for his outstanding support of the ASBP and the Blood Donor Center looks forward to many more blood drives to come at Seymour Johnson Air Force Base.
About the Armed Services Blood Program
Since 1962, the Armed Services Blood Program has served as the sole provider of blood for the U.S. military. As a tri-service organization, the ASBP collects, processes, stores and distributes blood and blood products to Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, Marines and their families worldwide. As one of four national blood collection organizations trusted to ensure the nation has a safe, potent blood supply, the ASBP works closely with our civilian counterparts by sharing donors on military installations where there are no military blood collection centers and by sharing blood products in times of need to maximize availability of this national treasure. To find out more about the ASBP or to schedule an appointment to donate, visit www.militaryblood.dod.mil. To interact directly with ASBP staff members, see more photos or get the latest news, follow @militaryblood on Facebook, Twitter, Flickr, YouTube and Pinterest. Find the drop. Donate.
The Armed Services Blood Program is a proud recipient of the Army Maj. Gen. Keith L. Ware Public Affairs award for journalism.