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Blood drive on base helps during critical time

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Jake Eckhardt
  • 375th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs
SCOTT AIR FORCE BASE, Ill. --  The Exchange hosted a blood drive Nov. 25 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Scott Air Force Base.
The Mississippi Valley Regional Blood Center ran the event and the Air Force Sergeants Association sponsored the blood drive to help keep the supply up during this time of year.

"During the holidays is the hardest time of the year to get blood donations and keep the blood supply up," said Tech. Sgt. Amber Callahan, the Air Mobility Command NCOIC of installation and mission support.

There wasn't a specific amount of blood that the blood drive was trying to collect said Callahan.

"More accidents happen this time of year, and that causes blood shortages," said Callahan. "We're just trying to get as much blood as possible."

Someone needs blood every two seconds; one pint of blood saves up to three lives, and 4.5 million Americans need blood transfusions each year.

"It doesn't matter if it's parts of blood, like platelets, or whole blood, it will help out," said Callahan.

The Mississippi Valley Regional Blood Center helped out with this blood drive to ensure the local area is prepared for the winter season.

"Teaming up with the Mississippi Valley Regional Blood Center helped us make sure that the local surrounding areas, such as Belleville and Shiloh, have enough blood through the holidays," said Callahan.

The Mississippi Valley Regional Blood Center is a nonprofit organization based out of Davenport, Iowa, that provides blood products and services to 80 hospitals in Illinois, Iowa, Missouri and Wisconsin.

In addition, the Red Cross hosts a blood drive each month on base with the help of different organizations. The location of the blood drives can be found at www.scott.af.mil/news/bulletinboard.asp. 

There are many qualifications to participate in a blood drive. All of the qualifications are given to potential donors the day of the blood drive. A list of the qualifications can be found at www.bloodcenter.org.