News from the Armed Services Blood Program
Issue No. 98  |  Sept. 27, 2016

From the Desk Of:
Navy Capt. Roland Fahie, Director, ASBPO

Navy Capt. Roland Fahie, ASBP director
Greetings! Welcome to this edition of Focal Point. The seasons have changed and everyone is back in school, but that does not mean the need for blood donations has stopped. It is important to remember that there is no substitute for human blood, and I send my personal thanks to the many men and women who help us save lives day in and day out, every season, every year. Without our donors, volunteers and supporters, we would not be able to continually provide lifesaving blood to ill or injured service members worldwide.
 
This month, the Service Blood Programs are working very hard with officials to comply with recent Food and Drug Administration recommendations to make our blood and blood products even safer by implementing Zika (ZIKV) testing under an Investigational New Drug (IND). Our program had the foresight to begin working towards 100 percent ZIKV testing earlier this year. I want to thank all our personnel in the donor centers for their resilience, commitment and dedication to completing all the required documentation so that we can be where we are today with implementing ZIKV testing.
 
Next month, the Armed Services Blood Program will hold our annual workshop on Oct. 22 at the AABB Annual Meeting in Orlando, Fla. During our workshop, we will focus on how the military blood program provides a global network to meet the needs of ill or catastrophically wounded warriors and their families, what blood products are being used closer to the point of injury, our global health engagement initiatives, and how they shape the future relationships. You also hear from some of our NATO partners who will discuss their blood programs.  Consider this my personal invitation to those who are interested in learning more!
 
As we move into Fall, I encourage everyone who is able to roll up your sleeves, spread the word about the military blood program, and pass on the legacy of blood from generation to generation.
 
Respectfully,
Capt. Roland Fahie
Cadets Donate 3,000 Units during Summer Training 

Cadet Edmond Muzo, Alpha Company, 5th Regiment, Cadet Initial Entry Course, donates blood July 25 at Smith Gym on Fort Knox, Ky. This year, the Armed Services Blood Program conducted 13 blood drives on the installation during Cadet Summer Training."This was a record-breaking year for us," said Army Lt. Col. Audra Taylor, director of the Army Blood Program. "A total of 17 blood drives were conducted over the course of the summer. Thirteen of them were conducted by the ASBP, and the four other drives were by the American Red Cross. Combined, the cadets donated a total of 3,618 units of blood -- 2,957 units with the ASBP and 661 with the Red Cross."  Read more.
Mother Thankful After Blood Donors Delivered

Seaman Recruit Tyler Goss (left) completed his second blood donation while attending boot camp in Great Lakes, Ill. His mother, Cherlotta Goss (right), is the mother to five children. But during the birth of her youngest son, she needed blood quickly. Bloo Cherlotta Goss is thankful for her five children and for the blood donors that helped ensure her youngest child survived a rough start. She's also thankful that her son joined the U.S. Navy. Read more.
No Uniform Required
The ASBP Focal Point civilian hero of the month

Army Col. Andrew Barr (left), Tripler Army Medical Center hospital commander, thanks Al Whitney (right) for his dedication to saving lives. Whitney is on a quest to donate at all of the Armed Services Blood Program blood donor centers, and his most recent

Retired 79-year-old Al Whitney has a different way of enjoying his retirement. A former factory worker from Cleveland, Ohio, he traveled more than 4,500 miles to donate platelets at the Tripler Blood Donor Center, Hawaii. Read more.
Picture This!
The ASBP Focal Point picture of the month


He can't donate (radio-active blood deferral) ... but gets others to! Just another thing your friendly neighborhood Spider-Man does!

FULL STORY: Spider-Man (aka Petty Officer 2nd Class Ruben Loya, attached to Navy Operational Support Center & Marine Corps Reserve Center San Diego) stopped by to visit the blood donor center at Naval Medical Center San Diego to personally thank Lt. Katherine Dozier for her blood donation. Loya is a dedicated platelet donor and also coordinates blood drives for his command. He gives back his time, talents and platelet donations because he knows how urgent blood products are to NMCSD patients. His daughter is in remission thanks to regular donations of whole blood and platelets during her treatments. (Photo by Doreen Rekoski, NMCSD blood donor recruiter)
Checkin' in with the:
Naval Hospital Camp Lejeune Blood Donor Center, Camp Lejeune, N.C.

Busy is an understatement for the staff at the Naval Hospital Camp Lejeune, N.C. Every day, they work hard to ensure top quality patient care. Tending to the needs of the patients and their jobs, the NHCL staff still find the time during their hectic schedules to support the blood donor center by donating blood. Read more.
Industry News

Mandatory Blood Screening to Prevent Transfusion-Transmission of Zika Virus (Transfusion News)

Since transfusion-transmission of the Zika virus has been confirmed in Brazil, along with numerous mosquito-borne and travel-related cases of Zika in the U.S., the FDA has revised their guidance recommendations. The FDA now recommends universal testing of all donated blood products using an investigational individual donor nucleic acid test for Zika virus. Learn more in this Transfusion News article.

To get the most recent CDC update for the Zika virus you can visit their website: http://www.cdc.gov/zika
Featured Media

 Air Force Major Lucky Mulumba fights sickle cell disease at home and abroad.
 
U.S. Air Force Maj. Lucky Mulumba fights sickle cell disease at home and abroad. See how she does it in this video from Staff Sgt. William Jackson,  325th Fighter Wing Public Affairs. 

Did you know blood donations help treat sickle cell disease? In honor of National Sickle Cell Awareness Month, stop by one of our donor centers today to learn more about how a blood donation can help treat sickle cell patients worldwide. 
Pins and Pints
The ASBP Focal Point pin of the month

 
Create a life of giving.

Find photos, recipes, articles, videos and more on Pinterest.
Super donors are saving lives every day

The Armed Services Blood Program is a proud recipient of the Army Maj. Gen. Keith L. Ware Public Affairs award for journalism.
About the ASBP
The ASBP plays a key role in providing quality blood products for service members, veterans and their families in both peace and war. As a tri-service organization, the ASBP has many components working together to collect, process and store, distribute and transfuse blood worldwide. Learn more on the ASBP website.