ABERDEEN PROVING GROUND, Md. - Not one person complained about a mysterious loss of blood during the Halloween-themed blood drive at the APG South (Edgewood) recreation center Oct. 17.
The U.S. Army Public Health Command, led by Sgt. Eric Jimenez, hosted the event as members of the Armed Services Blood Program from Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, Md., collected donations from 62 members of the APG community; meeting the goal of 55-64 donors.
Jimenez said 47 donors pre-registered and the rest were walk-ins. The donors consisted of mainly government civilians. Totals included 34 from the U.S. Army Edgewood Chemical Biological Center (ECBC); 10 from USAPHC; seven from the U.S. Army Medical Research Institute of Chemical Defense (MRICD) and four from JPME. The Chemical Materials Activity (CMA) and U.S. Army Communications-Electronics Command (CECOM) had two donors each and one donor each came from the U.S. Army Research Laboratory (ARL) and the Garrison's Directorate of Public Works (DPW). One donor was retired military.
Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class Tashia Blue led the ASBP team of technicians. She said ASBP teams visit military installations and federal organizations four times a week and ship units out weekly to Afghanistan, Europe or wherever American service members and their Families serve.
"These units go to service members and Family members all over the world," she said. She added that said several APG donors showed up before the team was set up.
"We normally like to get between 50 and 60," she said when the total at the time hovered around 45. "There's a pretty steady flow coming through the door so hopefully we'll top that."
Donors said they give simply because it seems the right thing to do.
"I've donated regularly about four years now," said Tim Varny of MRICD. "I'm healthy and I want to do my part for the military. Plus, they make it easy by coming here to Edgewood. I'm out of the office less than an hour."
A donor for 25 years, Susan Schulz, also of MRICD, said she donates to make a difference.
"I know where it goes. This is my way of helping our military," she said.
Jimenez said blood drive events rotate between APG North and APG South and that when donors see an event advertised they can always pre-register or locate events at other location on the ASBP website at http://www.militaryblood.dod.mil.
A message from Victoria Fernette, public affairs specialist with the WRNMMC Armed Services Blood Bank Command, commended Jimenez for the successful event. "There are very dedicated people who support the blood drives at Edgewood," Fernette wrote, adding that collections were down during the government shutdown. "Needless to say, coming to Edgewood helped us out a great deal. Many thanks to all of you for your support. You are all greatly appreciated."
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