| Armed Services Blood Program Newsletter |
November 9, 2010 | |
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From the Desk of:
COL Francisco Rentas, Director, ASBPO
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In this month's Focal Point, we highlight the excellent work that takes place each and every day at some of the Armed Services Blood Program blood donor centers around the world. Thanks to the hard work of the blood donor recruiters, and the staff and volunteers at each center, the Armed Services Blood Program is helping to ensure that military men, women, veterans and their families receive the life-saving blood they need. For more information on the blood donor center nearest you, please visit the Armed Services Blood Program blood donor centers page. Warm regards, COL Francisco Rentas
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| A Relaxing Way to Make History |
 For Sgt. Harry Carelock, the opportunity to make history came while reclined in a donor chair watching a movie with half a dozen people on hand to ensure his comfort. Carelock was the first new platelet donor at Fort Hood's Robertson Blood Center apheresis training program-a program designed to train deploying troops to be experts on platelet collection in war zones.
A former Marine, Carelock served as an infantryman before departing for college. After college, he entered the Army as a signalman. Now serving as a Line of Sight Communications Team Chief, the Georgia native volunteered to donate so that the apheresis systems used to train deploying troops could be validated.
Read the entire story on the ASBP website.
Photo: Sgt. Harry Carelock is presented an Armed Services Blood Program coin by Capt. Steven McDaniel for being the first volunteer for the new apheresis training program at the Robertson Blood Center, Fort Hood, Texas.
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Fort Sam Houston Plays Favorites!
At the Akeroyd Blood Donor Center, Fort Sam Houston, Texas, the laboratory technicians all work together to save lives-whether military, civilian or contractor personnel. Two outstanding members of a wonderful team, phlebotomists Juanita Vidales and Richard Rangel are not military service members but both contribute greatly to the daily success of the blood donor center.
 Vidales joined the Akeroyd Blood Donor Center in 2004 as a contract phlebotomist (a qualified technician trained to draw blood), and has since performed a record number of phlebotomies-95 units per month, with a success rate of 98 percent. Vidales proudly and routinely manages two to three beds at a time. While very serious about her job, Vidales collects blood from her donors with a smile, making her a favorite among returning donors. When asked what brings her to work each day, she replies: "Knowing I'm collecting a precious fluid to save someone's life."
Read the entire story on the ASBP website.
Photo: Juanita Vidales (left) and Richard Rangel (right) are not military personnel, but both are key members of the Akeroyd Blood Donor Center at Fort Sam Houston, Texas.
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Recognizing a Donor with a Rare Record
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As Zoe Hasty, an administrative specialist at the Wright-Patterson Air Force Base Blood Donor Center, looked up records on the electronic recording system, she originally thought that the man sitting across from her at the registration table was impressively completing his 69th donation. Hasty then found out that he carried a worn, handwritten donor card dating back further than the electronic records she was using, and was instead about to donate his 137th unit. 
After learning the man's name, blood donor recruiter Dave Thomas, quickly realized he was about to greet someone he knew was a dedicated donor. They found Maj. Charles Earnhart relaxed in a donor chair, reading the newspaper, chatting idly with the phlebotomist, and filling the collection bag with every pump of his fist.
Greeting them with an open smile, Earnhart put his paper to the side, eager to talk about his experiences. "I came into the Air Force in 1963 and served in Vietnam," he said. "I know very well the importance and impact of donating blood and encourage everyone I meet to do so." Photo: After completing his 137th blood donation, retired U.S. Air Force Maj. Charles Earnhart proudly displays his handwritten donor cards that have tracked his blood donations for years.
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State-of-the-Art Blood Donor Center Opens at Fort Bragg
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On Sept. 23, 2010, approximately 200 men and women from all ranks and branches of the military, blood donors and blood drive contributors alike, attended the opening ceremonies for Fort Bragg's new blood donor center. As one of the Armed Services Blood Program's 21 blood donor centers, the new state-of-the-art facility will collect, process, test, store and ship blood for military service members, veterans and their families. 
The new center at Fort Bragg will serve the men and women that walk through its doors and will also serve the Womack Army Medical center. Womack Army Medical Center Chief of Pathology, Col. Georgina Murray, and Commander of the medical center Col. Brian Canfield were on hand to welcome guests and speakers at the opening ceremonies. Brig. Gen. Michael X. Garrett, chief of staff for the XVIII Airborne Corps, was the guest speaker and had the honor of cutting the large red, bow-adorned ribbon outside the blood donor center's front door.
Photo: Brig. Gen. Michael X. Garret, chief of staff of the XVIII Airborne Corps, cuts the ceremonial ribbon at Fort Bragg's new blood donor center.
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Picture This!
The ASBP Focal Point picture of the month
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 Nearly 1,300 cadets were willing and eager to donate blood when the Armed Services Blood Program held a blood drive at the U.S. Air Force Academy. Over the course of three days, 64 staff members from seven different donor centers looked after the 45 collection beds at the site.
The dedication of the cadets, blood donor center staff and volunteers made the U.S. Air Force Academy blood drive truly successful, and will help to ensure that service men and women at home and overseas can continue to receive blood when they need it most.
Photo:Blood donor collection area at the U.S. Air Force Academy.
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