Team Malmstrom donates blood, saves lives

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Katrina Heikkinen
  • 341st Missile Wing Public Affairs
MALMSTROM AIR FORCE BASE, Mont. --  Nearly 40 Team Malmstrom members donated blood during the monthly American Red Cross blood drive at the Grizzly Bend on July 16.

According to the American Red Cross website, the Red Cross needs approximately 700 donors in Montana to step forward and donate just one pint of blood each week. The Red Cross supplies the nation with more than 40 percent of the blood products used in the U.S. Of the 6.5 million units of blood collected from 4 million people, 9.5 million blood products are distributed.

"Our average is 30 donors every month," said 2nd Lt. Charles Frazier, 341st Missile Maintenance Squadron facility maintenance officer in charge, and base-wide blood drive director. "We had a great turn out July 16."

The process of donating blood takes no more than 30 minutes and involves filling out a questionnaire, getting blood pressure tested and having temperature taken. After the blood is drawn and tested for diseases, it is separated into various components and distributed to one of approximately 3,000 hospitals and transfusions centers.

"We all have a chance to save a life [by donating blood] without any risk at all," said Col. Robert Stanley, 341st Missile Wing commander. "Please consider being a quiet hero in this way."

Team Malmstrom members who are eligible to donate with types O, B and A negative are especially encouraged to donate. For Frazier, donating blood is something he feels strongly about.

"I donate because I have blood to give," Frazier said. "It saves lives. Anything that can save a life is worth doing. If there is someone in need and I have the resources to help, I believe it's my responsibility to do so. I believe all members of Team Malmstrom [who are eligible] should donate because it is just one way to support our on - and off-base community as well as our brothers and sisters abroad."

The next blood drive is scheduled for Aug. 28 at the Grizzly Bend from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

The following are general eligibility criteria to donate blood according to the Red Cross:

· Must be at least 17 years old or 16 years old with parental or guardian consent, if allowed by state law.
· Cannot have an acute infection, fever or be on antibiotics the day of donation.
· If the individual has a history of bleeding problems and their blood doesn't clot normally, they may be ineligible.
· Cannot be taking any blood thinners.
· Blood pressure must be between 80 and 160 systolic, and between 50 and 100 diastolic at the time of donation.
· Donors should wait 12 months after receiving a blood transfusion from another person in the U.S. Individual is ineligible to donate if they received a blood transfusion since 1980 in the United Kingdom or France.
· If individual has cancer, eligibility depends on type of cancer and treatment history. Those who have or had leukemia or lymphoma, including Hodgkin's disease and other blood cancers, are ineligible.
· Donors should wait eight weeks between donating whole blood donations, seven days between donating platelets and 16 weeks between donating double red cells.
· Donors who suffer from heart disease should wait at least six months to donate following an episode of angina, a heart attack, bypass surgery or angioplasty and medication changes.
· Individual must weigh at least 110 pounds.

For more information on eligibility criteria or to donate blood, visit www.redcrossblood.org. To volunteer to help set up, tear down or hang up flyers for Malmstrom's next blood drive, call Frazier at 731-4262.