Give blood, save a life

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Tammie Moore
  • 4th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
SEYMOUR JOHNSON AIR FORCE BASE, N.C. --  The American Red Cross is offering members of the Seymour Johnson community an opportunity to commemorate Sept. 11 with a life-saving blood donation from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the new community center, (old Officer's Club).

"There is no substitute for blood," said Kimberly Berrier, ARC senior donor recruitment representative. "When you give one pint of blood it saves three lives."

The donation process from start to finish takes approximately one hour. Donors must be at least 17 years old. Those giving whole blood must weigh at least 110 pounds and be in generally good health. Whole blood donors can give every 56 days.

Members of the Seymour Johnson community can choose to make an automated red cell donation, also referred to as "double red cell donation." This process allows a donor to give twice as many red blood cells as a typical donation, since the drawn blood has the red cells pulled from it before it is returned to the body. Automated male donors must be at least 5'1" and weigh at least 150 pounds. A female donor must be at least 5'5" tall and weigh at least 175 pounds. All automated donors must have a starting iron level of 40 percent or higher. These donors must wait 112 days between donations.

Ms. Berrier believes donors should prepare themselves for making a donation like they would prepare to run a marathon. She encourages individuals to hydrate, get a good night's sleep and eat a good meal before arriving to give blood.

"A Pepsi and a Pop Tart is not a good breakfast before making a donation," she said. A better choice would be a breakfast sandwich and juice.

Individuals who became light headed or passed out while giving blood in the past are not discouraged from coming again.

"If you let us know when you come in, we can look out for you," Ms. Berrier said. "Then let the staff know how you feel throughout the process."

According to the ARC Southeast Division Web site, www.redcrossblood.org, every two seconds someone in the U.S. receives a blood transfusion. One in 10 people entering the hospital need blood. Hospitals use more than 38,000 blood donations every day, with Type O as the most requested type.

Individuals can walk into the blood drive to make an appointment or they can schedule an appointment online at ARC Southeast Division.

"Base drives are spaced so each whole blood donor can give at every drive and automated donors at every other one," Ms. Berrier said. Additional base ARC blood drives are scheduled for Nov. 13, Jan. 8, March 12 and May 14.

For more information about donation requirements or limitations, call 1-866-236-3276 or visit www.redcrossblood.org.

The following are some factors that will disqualify individuals from donating:
· A deployment to the Middle East in the last year.
· Spending three months or more in the United Kingdom from 1980-1996.
· Spending six months or more at a military installation in Europe from 1980-1996.
· Individuals who have lived in Europe for five years or more since Jan. 1, 1997.
· Tattoos may cause a 12 deferral; however, those tattooed in a regulated facility in N.C. or S.C. with a sterile single-use needle and ink do not have a deferral.
· An ear or body piercings done with a sterile or single-use needle do not have a time deferral. Those pierced with another type of needle have a 12-month deferral.
· You are pregnant or have been pregnant in the last six weeks.
· A cold, flu or fever.
· You had a blood transfusion in the last 12 months.