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The need for donated blood is constant, even during a government shutdown. Military, civilians and visitors at Landstuhl Regional Medical Center helped answer the call at the Blood Donor Month blood drive in LRMC’s Heaton Auditorium Monday.
Pvt. 1st Class Dillon Dennis, a licensed practical nurse from LRMC’s Same Day Surgery, said he knew that it was important to take a few minutes from his day to stop by the blood drive.
“I donate just to help my brothers and sisters in arms. While they’re patients here or deployed, I can do my part to help them,” Dennis said.
Blood donated to the Armed Services Blood Bank Center Europe helps patients with cancer, traumatic injuries, battlefield injuries, undergoing surgical procedures and others who need help at a military medical treatment facility.
“It can be difficult to collect blood in Europe because of the rules and restrictions on blood donations regulated by the Food and Drug Administration,” Urban said. “One restriction limits donating blood if you have lived in certain countries in Europe for more than five years; Germany being one of them.”
However, Urban added that the rules are in place to have a safe supply of blood.
LRMC Commander Col. Timothy Hudson also strongly supports blood donation after serving as chief nurse of the 274th Forward Surgical Team in Mosul, Iraq.
“The blood that people here in Europe donated was coming to us in Iraq, we carried it with us because you never know when it will be needed,” Hudson said.
How can you help?
Find an ASBBC-E blood drive at www.militarydonor.com. For more information about the donor center, find it on Facebook at www.facebook.com/ASBBCEUR or view photos on Instagram at
www.instagram.com/asbp_europe/.
Mark your calendars for these upcoming National Blood Donor Month Blood Drives:
January 30 in the KMCC – Food Court, 2 – 5 p.m.
January 31 in Baumholder’s Hall of Champions, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.
