It's the most wonderful time of the year. People's concern for their fellow man is more evident than any other.
The Fort Leonard Wood Blood Donor Center staff hopes that attitude toward giving doesn't stop with presents.
"We need everyone's help all year, but especially during the last two weeks of December," said Maj. James Burke, Fort Leonard Wood Blood Donor Center officer-in-charge. "The service members in training here are our primary donor pool. Since they leave during holiday block leave, our largest source of blood donations all but vanishes come Dec. 20, but the need for blood continues."
Burke said during the 14 days of holiday block leave, the military healthcare system will require about 5,600 units of blood, and the primary donor pool at Fort Leonard Wood and other military training installations is gone.
The Fort Leonard Wood Blood Donor Center collects blood for the Armed Services Blood Program, the official blood collection agency for the U.S. military. The ASBP is a tri-service organization representing all three services, Army, Navy and Air Force, and collects blood from the military for the military whenever and wherever it's needed the most. But although the holiday season is here, the need for blood does not stop.
Statistics show that the need for blood remains as constant during the holiday season as it is the rest of the year. One-in-four service members injured in Afghanistan or other overseas contingency area requires a blood transfusion and the military healthcare system as a whole requires 400 units of blood every day to meet routine operations around the globe -- the holidays are no exception.
Blood and blood products are used for patients of all ages for many reasons. However, blood the ASBP collects directly supports ill or injured service members, retirees and their Families in military hospitals around the globe as well as service members on the battlefield.
Anyone who has access to Fort Leonard Wood and can meet the donation requirements is welcome to donate blood. Those requirements say that donors must weigh at least 110 pounds, be at least 17 years old and have been feeling well for at least three days before donating. It's also good for donors to be well hydrated and eat before donating. Potential donors are also reminded to bring a list of foreign countries they've traveled to, including when and how long their visit was and photo identification to the appointment as well.
The Fort Leonard Wood Blood Donor Center is located in Building 822 on Colorado Avenue.
The donor center will be open 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Mondays and Tuesdays and 8 a.m. to noon on Wednesdays over the course of holiday block leave, Dec. 20 to Jan. 3. Call 573.596.5385 or e-mail our donor recruiter at carl.a.norman2.civ@mail.mil for additional information.
(Editor's note: Norman is the Armed Services Blood Program blood donor recruiter, Fort Leonard Wood.)
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