Donate blood, save a life

SEYMOUR JOHNSON AIR FORCE BASE, N.C. -- Army Specialist Jerry Huerta prepares to take blood from Airman 1st Class Shane Richardson during an Armed Services blood drive at Heritage Hall Community Center June 28, 2010. Each donor gives a pint of blood. More than 90 percent of all donations collected by the Fort Bragg Blood Donor Center staff goes straight to Iraq to help those injured supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom. Specialist Huerta, Ft. Bragg combat medic, hails from San Antonio. Airman Richardson, 4th Operations Support Squadron air traffic controller, hails from Lancaster, Ky. (U.S. Air Force photo illustration/Senior Airman Ciara Wymbs)

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Donate blood, save a life

SEYMOUR JOHNSON AIR FORCE BASE, N.C. -- Airman 1st Class Cliffard Redd gives blood during an Armed Services blood drive at Heritage Hall Community Center June 28, 2010. The ASBP provides quality blood to servicemembers and their families in both peace and war time. Airman Redd, 4th Operations Support Squadron air traffic controller, hails from Athens, Ga. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Ciara Wymbs)

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Donate blood, save a life

SEYMOUR JOHNSON AIR FORCE BASE, N.C. -- Teresa Medina prepares to test a blood donation before packing it during an Armed Service blood drive at Heritage Hall Community Center June 28, 2010. All donations go through a series of testing for diseases transmittable through a blood transfusion, including HIV, malaria and viral hepatitis before sending into the war zone. Ms. Medina, a Fort Bragg Blood Donor Center phlebotomist, hails from Fayetteville. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Ciara Wymbs)

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Donate blood, save a life

SEYMOUR JOHNSON AIR FORCE BASE, N.C. -- Teresa Thompson prepares Staff Sgt. Brandon Wagoner for blood donation during an Armed Service blood drive at Heritage Hall Community Center June 28, 2010. The ASBP has many facilities working together to collect, process, store, distribute and transfuse blood worldwide. Ms. Thompson, a Fort Bragg Blood Donor Center phlebotomist, hails from Bronx, N.Y. Sergeant Wagoner, 4th Security Forces Squadron investigator, hails from Honolulu. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Ciara Wymbs)

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Donate blood, save a life

SEYMOUR JOHNSON AIR FORCE BASE, N.C. -- A volunteer donates a pint of blood during an Armed Services blood drive at Heritage Hall Community Center June 28, 2010. Blood or plasma replenishes within 24 hours after a donation; however red blood cells take four to eight weeks to completely restore. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Ciara Wymbs)

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Donate blood, save a life

Published June 29, 2010
By Senior Airman Ciara Wymbs
4th Fighter Wing Public Affairs

SEYMOUR JOHNSON AIR FORCE BASE, N.C. -- The Armed Services Blood Program provides quality blood products and services worldwide for servicemembers during times of peace and war.

More than 90 percent of all donations collected by the ASBP go to servicemembers injured while supporting operations Iraqi and Enduring Freedom. Blood not used to support contingency operations is sent to medical facilities for daily operations. The ASBP operates 22 donor centers and 81 transfusion centers in the U.S., Europe and Asia.
Donors can give one pint of blood every 57 days. The body can regenerate a lost pint of blood or plasma within 24 hours; however, it takes four to eight weeks to completely restore the red blood cells.

The next ASBP blood drive is August 24th.