A little bloodshed could save a lot of lives

Photo By Sgt. Lynnwood Thomas | Spc. Richard Damge, medical laboratory non-commisioned officer-in-charge for Task Force Medical, draws blood from Sgt. Jessica Rivers, preventative dentistry sergeant with TF MED, for screening at the Medical facility on Camp Bondsteel, Kosovo, Oct. 9, 2019. Task Force Medical initiated a Stored Whole Blood Program on Camp Bondsteel to increase the amount of stored blood units available, in case a situation that requires a blood transfusion occurs. (U.S. Army photos by Spc. Lynnwood Thomas, 40th Public Affairs Detachment)  

CAMP BONDSTEEL, KOSOVO

10.09.2019

Story by Spc. Lynnwood Thomas 

40th Public Affairs Detachment

CAMP BONDSTEEL, Kosovo – A Soldier’s life or death can depend on the amount of blood on-hand. Task Force Medical initiated a Stored Whole Blood Program on Camp Bondsteel Oct. 9. The program is exclusive to Soldiers who have O negative blood, because the medical community refers to them as “universal donors,” meaning their blood is compatible with every blood type.
TF MED is using this program to increase the amount of stored blood units available on Camp Bondsteel, in case a situation requiring blood transfusions occurs.
“It’s the most useful blood to have in an emergency situation,” U.S. Army Capt. Joshua Oliver, brigade surgeon for TF MED said. “If someone’s dying in front of you, you don’t have to cross check their blood types, you can just give them the blood.”
Potential donors arrived at the base medical facility to have a sample of their blood drawn for screening, which will validate them as donors.
“We have four units of packed red blood cells on hand most of the time,” Oliver said. “But if somebody were dying in front of us and we couldn’t evacuate them right away, we would need more blood in order to save lives. We have a pool of people here on Camp Bondsteel that we can get that blood from.”
Sgt. Mary Wood, behavioral health specialist with Task Force MED, said she donated from a place of charity, knowing that their contribution benefits the overall resiliency of Regional Command – East Soldiers.
“I feel like it’s important to give back any way that I can,” said Wood. “I think it’s a great way to give back to others and to keep Soldiers in the fight.”
Wood said that she donates as often as possible and doesn’t take lightly the short time required to give blood and how giving has such a large impact.
“While we’re here on a peacekeeping mission, you never know what can happen,” she said. “Somebody can get in a simple automobile wreck… it’s a way that you can help save someone’s life. That to me is one of the most important things we can do as human beings – help each other.”
TF MED urges any RC-E troops, with O negative blood, who are interested in becoming a donor to seek out their local clinic or visit the medical facility on Camp Bondsteel.
“Every Soldier that donates a unit of blood is a life saver,” Oliver said. “That’s just the way it is. There is nothing that can allow us to save a life more than a unit of blood.”
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• Date Taken: 10.09.2019
• Date Posted: 10.20.2019 15:29
• Story ID: 348351
• Location: CAMP BONDSTEEL, ZZ