American Red Cross holds blood drive at Warfield

  • Published
  • By Airman Sarah M. McClanahan
  • 175th Public Affairs

    Service members participated in an American Red Cross blood drive June 15, 2017, held at Warfield Air National Guard Base, Middle River, Maryland.

    Warfield holds blood drives through the American Red Cross twice annually and the total number of pints, or units, of blood donated each drive is 30 units, said Master Sgt. Stephanie Feldhausen, health system specialist assigned to the 175th Medical Group and blood drive coordinator.

    Donating blood is critically important because every five seconds someone needs blood or a blood component, said Ciara Tina Mandell, collections specialist II for the American Red Cross. One unit of blood can potentially save three lives.

    One of the biannual blood drives is always held in June or July because it is a critical time to donate blood, said Feldhausen. This is because there is a greater need for blood during the summer months and fewer units are donated outside of the school year.

      It’s crucial for Warfield service members to donate blood because it goes back to the community, said Feldhausen. Not only does this give back, but, it could potentially save the lives of other guardsmen since civilian doctors would typically respond to a guardsman’s medical emergency.

      “You never know when you are going to need it,” said Feldhausen.