Sailors aboard the aircraft carrier USS George Washington (CVN 73) participated in a mobile blood drive for the Armed Services Blood Program (ASBP), a joint health agency that provides blood products for military personnel and their families worldwide, April 18.

Many of the ASBP blood donor centers worldwide have conducted mobile blood drives to supply the ASBP with blood needed for the more than 1.5 million transfusions performed since the organization's inception.

"I decided to donate because I feel I can help others if I donate blood," said Logistic Specialist 2nd Class Susana Floresangeles. "I feel good about doing this and I plan to do it again when I have the opportunity."

Donating blood with the ASBP can be a very rewarding experience knowing that one donation can save up to three lives.

"I've met a lot of people during these blood drives that come to donate blood that have had transfusions in the past," said Hospital Corpsman 3rd Class Daniela Cunningham, a phlebotomist for the mobile blood drive. "They're alive because of this."

Those donations go to help military personnel deployed at the tip of the spear.

"We're collecting as many units [of blood] as we can so we can ship them out to those in combat zones right now," said Hospital Corpsman 3rd Class Renezaldy Cruz, a phlebotomist for the mobile blood drive. We're just trying to bring home as many people as possible."

With quality blood always in high demand, George Washington Sailors can make an immediate impact by joining the Walking Blood Bank (WBB). The WBB is comprised of a group of people who are prepared to be called upon to donate blood to meet a particular emergency. The key component of the WBB is to identify and screen qualified blood donors to provide fresh whole blood for wounded service members.

"[The blood drive] will benefit the George Washington Walking Blood Bank as well as provide needed blood products down range for our personnel who remain deployed," said Cmdr. Nathan Brezovic, the ship's nurse.

Every unit of blood is critical for the trauma centers that the ASBP supports, who need 40 or more units of blood each.

Sailors who are interested in donating blood can ask their command medical team for more information, or visit www.militaryblood.dod.mil.

Join the conversation with GW online at www.facebook.com/USSGW and www.twitter.com/GW_CVN73.

For more information, visit
www.navy.mil,
www.facebook.com/usnavy, or
www.twitter.com/usnavy.