CHARLESTON AIR FORCE BASE, S.C. –
Charleston AFB held the first bimonthly American Red Cross blood drive at the Fitness and Sports Center here Oct. 15.
More than 125 Team Charleston members came out to the 437th Maintenance Squadron sponsored blood drive to donate 137 units of red cell and whole blood that will be used in the Charleston area. Charleston AFB officials and the ARC have mutually agreed to allow the base become a drive sponsor which will allow a blood drive to be held every eight weeks to donate blood for those in need of it.
"This ARC Blood Drive initiative was started because of the increased demand for red blood cells and platelets," said Capt. David Boyer, 437th Force Support Squadron Sustainment Flight chief and 437th Airlift Wing representative for ARC blood drives.
Because the base will now donate blood on a continuous basis, Team Charleston members will be helping out with the continuing rise in demand for blood, according to the ARC.
While the demand may be growing, those willing to donate were not in short supply during the six-hour blood drive on base.
"We had people waiting to donate prior to our 11 a.m. start time," said Lorita Baughman, 437 MXS Maintenance Flight administrative assistant. "There was such a massive turn out, some donors signed in and had to leave before donating, some couldn't wait at all and some had deployed to areas that made them ineligible before they were even able to sign in."
While the original goal of 77 units was surpassed, those organizing the blood drive are looking at ways to improve the process and get in more individuals to increase the amount of blood donated.
To help with future blood drives, organizers are hoping to add more beds and increase the length of the blood drive with it starting at 7 a.m. and ending at 7 p.m.
Also, to help in the screening of possible donators, organizers are looking at putting together a pre-screening questionnaire for military members.
This will help screen out those who are not able to donate due to where they may have traveled to, said Ms. Baughman. This will also decrease wait time for those who are able to donate.
While a good number of people came out to donate blood, Ms. Baughman, who has donated blood since she was 18, shared a story of how donating blood helps those here on base.
"I received an e-mail from a 437th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron Airman and he told me of how his daughter was receiving blood transfusions on a continuous basis, and how very grateful he was for us doing this."
The next blood drive is scheduled for Dec. 17 and will be sponsored by the 437th Civil Engineer Squadron.