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SAN DIEGO - Even though they have not earned the title of United States Marine yet, the men of Company E, 2nd Recruit Training Battalion have the chance to help out their future brothers and sisters. They can donate blood during the third phase of recruit training aboard Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego.
This donation has a special purpose. Most blood drives in the San Diego area are for blood banks or local hospitals. This recruit donation is for the sole purpose of providing whole blood and blood products to help care for military men and women.
“Everything that is collected at these blood drives goes toward the military,” said Doreen Rekoski, blood drive recruiter, Naval Medical Center San Diego. “We ship it all for the troops. Every week we have to collect so many units for troops overseas, and for those at our hospital. This is our primary blood drive.”
Before recruits donate blood, they go through several screenings.
All of the recruits go through the initial screening process, said Staff Sgt. Joseph Anciaux, senior drill instructor, Platoon 2109, Company E, 2nd RTB.
“The screening is a detailed process,” said Rekoski. “Recruits give their medical history and answer a few survey questions about their past. Questions such as: have they given blood recently, gotten a tattoo within the last year and if they have lived overseas for a certain period of time.”
The answers a recruit gives may disqualify him, which means he is sent back to the barracks to wait for the rest of his platoon. If he is not disqualified, he continues on with the process. Even though many recruits are disqualified, a good number always remain to give, said Rekoski.
Regardless of the size of the companies that come through we usually get a good turn-out, said Rekoski.
When recruits finish the surveys they line up for the next step.
“They go through a registry to log them into the network,” said Rekoski, “and then go to our phlebotomists who take vital signs (heart rate, temperature, etc.) and screen them for blood pressure, blood type, and diseases such as hepatitis. They have to meet requirements to continue.
The next step, according to Rekoski, is to test blood for iron levels. Each recruit has his finger pricked to get a drop of blood which is then dropped into a solution of copper sulfate. If the blood sinks to the bottom within 15 seconds the iron level is satisfactory.
Once it is determined a recruit meets the requirements needed to qualify, he continues to the next station for a confidential interview where, once again, he may be disqualified.
Those who pass the confidential interview are issued a blood bag and bucket containing everything needed for a blood donation.
Then it’s a matter of waiting until one of the attendants is ready to draw his blood.
“I’ve never given that much blood before,” said Recruit Jeff Palm, Platoon 2114. “I’m nervous around needles, but was excited to give blood. I know it will be used to help someone. Plus I get a pastry at the end.”
The recruits are called one by one to get their blood drawn by phlebotomists from the Naval Medical Center.
But some are sent to the medical center to donate platelets.
“When a person is in a hospital, some patients need help from other blood products,” said Rekoski. “Platelets help clot blood and stop bleeding. We always need of platelets, and have to constantly collect them. The medical center has the equipment to separate platelets from whole blood, so we send recruits there for their donation.”
When the recruits finish giving blood, they are escorted to a set of chairs near tables with food and beverage. The recruits are then told to sit down for a short period of time, and have something to eat and drink to help make up the volume of blood they have donated.
“I have this phobia of needles,” said Recruit James Gomez, Platoon 2110. “I’ve always been slightly frightened by sharp objects, but I was absolutely excited about giving blood.”
After the recovery period, the recruits go back to their barracks, said Anciaux.
They have just given a pint of blood and need some rest.
Marine recruits do their part to help their brothers and sisters in the armed forces who may possibly need blood to keep fighting, said Rekoski.
| Date Taken: | 01.27.2011 |
| Date Posted: | 01.27.2011 15:49 |
| Story ID: | 64329 |
| Location: | SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA, US |
| Web Views: | 576 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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