McALESTER, Okla. -- In one of his final official acts at McAlester Army Ammunition Plant here, the substance abuse program assistant who coordinated the annual American Red Cross blood drive for the workforce the past five years, rolled up his sleeve and made his first donation.
"After all the disasters going on and the police shootings, I thought it would be good to help," said Joshua Stout. "I usually work the whole time and am too busy, but there was a 10- or 15- minute break, so I donated to help save a life."
Stout was one of one of 72 employees who donated a total of 78 units of blood, including six who gave double red cells. He will begin a new job with the Choctaw Nation later this month.
A single donation may save up to three lives, according to the American Red Cross website, and like Stout, MCAAP employees have a myriad of reasons for giving the 'gift of life.'
Mike Shropshire, a quality assurance specialist, said he donates to pay it forward.
"You never know if one of your family members may need it and receive it," he said.
Crystal Barlow in the Production Planning Office of the Ammunition Operations Directorate knows that feeling well. It was because her then 16-month old daughter needed two transfusions to restore her to good health in 2004 that she has become a regular donor.
Others, like Raytheon Company employee, Jay Henson, do it because someone in their life has inspired them. He explained that his childhood physician in Waco, Texas, had donated 64 gallons of blood during his lifetime. Henson began donating as a high school senior in 1975 and has contributed nearly five gallons.
"I'm a slouch," he said with a laugh.
Another employee said he appreciates learning through the American Red Cross Donor app where the blood is used.
"It lets you know you are helping a real person," said Steve Cox, director of Engineering and Public Works. Cox said his last donation was used to help someone in Kansas City.
Donors are notified by email, letter, postcard or the app whenever their donation is used in therapy or extreme trauma, said Kim Maples, account manager for donor recruitment, American Red Cross Southwest Region.
Recent acts of violence across the nation have put blood in high demand.
"We sent a lot of blood to Orlando and Dallas," Maples said. "We're promoting donate in honor of law enforcement right now and the people in Oklahoma and Texas have been extremely giving the past six weeks."
Since 2006 when Southwest Region Blood Services from Tulsa began making annual visits to MCAAP, it has collected 862 units of blood, which potentially helping up to 2,586 patients, according to Jan Hale, external communications manager for the Central Plains & Southwest Blood Services Region.
MCAAP is one of 14 installations of the Joint Munitions Command and one of 23 organic industrial base facilities under the U.S. Army Materiel Command.
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