Naval Special Warfare Hosts Annual Blood Drive

CORONADO, Calif. (NNS) -- Naval Special Warfare Command (NSW) hosted a Naval Medical Center San Diego (NMCSD) blood donor drive to support the Troops, July 24.

NSW donors answered the call for potentially lifesaving blood, as Sailors and civilians joined in the effort and contributed more than 30 pints that will benefit military members and their families around the world.

"We are a military blood donor center and our mission is to help the military," said Doreen Rekoski, NMCSD blood donor recruiter. "We do that in a few ways, our blood goes to military treatment facilities, deployed Navy ships, and weekly troop shipments which send blood out to military treatment facilities all over the world.

Military blood donations are limited due to federal restrictions stating that military collections must be performed on military installations. Although anyone can donate, they must have base access to participate.

"Donating blood saves lives," said Rekoski. "There is no substitute for human blood and the lives of many combat troops have been saved due to a ready supply of available blood when injuries occur."

Personnel Specialist 1st Class Joshua Delong has given blood more than a dozen times in his life and advocates the importance of donating.

"It saves lives; it's that simple," said Delong. "It is just an easy and good way to help out."

"One donation can save three lives," said Rekoksi. "We have saved thousands upon thousands of lives both at home and in forward deployed areas over the years."

"Everyone should donate because it's such a small price to pay for the possibility of saving someone's life especially for our troops," said Yeoman 2nd Class (AW) Linda Barriga.

For more information regarding NMRCS visit http://www.militaryblood.dod.mil/

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For more news from Naval Special Warfare, visit www.navy.mil/local/nsw/.