From the Desk Of:
Navy Capt. Roland Fahie, Director, ASBPO
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
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Cadets Donate 3,000 Units during 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. |
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Mother Thankful After Blood Donors Delivered
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.
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No Uniform Required
The ASBP Focal Point civilian hero of the month
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. |
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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) |
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