FORT GEORGE G. MEADE -- The bowling alley is a place to kick back and have some relaxing fun with friends.
On Feb. 24, it will also be a place to help save lives.
The Armed Services Blood Program, based at the National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda, will conduct a blood drive at Fort Meade to acquire units of blood to help service members in need.
The drive will be held at the Lanes from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Although the bowling alley will remain open during the blood drive, donors will have privacy in the Lounge while they give blood.
"If you're capable of giving, please give," Woolshleger said.
Donors at the Lanes will receive the added perk of a coupon for a free shoe rental and a game of bowling.
Woolshleger said the bowling alley is an ideal place to hold the drive because it is very accessible and visible to the community.
"It's a win for the Armed Services Blood Program as they acquire units of blood, and it might bring a new customer base into the bowling alley as well," he said.
There are, however, some restrictions on who may donate in order to ensure the safety of the donor and the quality of the blood.
Donors must be in primarily good health, weigh more than 110 pounds and be at least 17 years old.
Those who traveled to an area with malaria must wait one year before donating blood. In addition, depending on where and for how long, potential donors who were in Europe may be prohibited from giving blood as well.
Fort Meade Casualty Assistance Officer Lt. Col. Brian Woolshleger said the blood program staff will check each individual prior to donating to ensure he or she can safely give blood.
The Armed Services Blood Program is a blood donation program similar to the American Red Cross, but donations benefit service members and Department of Defense facilities.
"We exist to offset the blood supply," said Navy Cmdr. Richard Graham, director of the Armed Services Blood Bank Center National Capital Area.
More than 20 donor centers worldwide distribute 60,000 blood products every year through DoD.
Graham's donor center is located at the National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda. His area covers states from Connecticut to Virginia. Blood drives are held at military and federal installations throughout the center's territory, drawing blood for distribution.
Last year, blood from the Armed Services Blood Program was used for 283,000 transfusions.
Service members in need of transfusions are dependent on volunteer donors, the only source of blood for the transfusions, said Graham.
"We can put a man on the moon, we're the most successful nation in today's modern world, but we can't manufacture a pint of blood," Woolshleger said. "If you're able to give, and you're willing to give, we're more than happy to receive your gift to provide to our service members."
The majority of the blood is given to service members and military installations for spouses, children and retirees.
Donated blood is also used in the field for injured service members. In addition, it is used to help those in need during war. Graham said units of blood are being transfused to the local populace in such locations as Afghanistan and Iraq.
For more information about the blood drive on Feb. 24 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Lanes, or to schedule an appointment, call 301-677-5406.
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