AMLC hosts Fort Detrick blood drive, supports warfighter readiness

By Maj. Antonio Acevedo-Guzman FORT DETRICK, Md. – A single unit of blood on the battlefield can be the difference between life and death for an injured…

By Maj. Antonio Acevedo-GuzmanFORT DETRICK, Md. – A single unit of blood on the battlefield can be the difference between life and death for an injured… FORT DETRICK, Md. – A single unit of blood on the battlefield can be the difference between life and death for an injured Soldier. Recognizing that reality, personnel across Fort Detrick joined together Oct. 2 to donate 30 units of blood during a U.S. Army Medical Logistics Command-hosted blood drive. The drive, coordinated in partnership with the Armed Services Blood Program, or ASBP, produced enough blood products to support up to 90 service members, veterans, military families and civilians worldwide. Every whole-blood donation collected can be separated into three essential components – red blood cells, platelets and plasma – directly supporting trauma care, surgical operations and critical clinical needs in both deployment environments and military medical treatment facilities.

Beyond its lifesaving potential, the effort also saved the military medical system more than $8,000 in blood procurement costs, according to ASBP estimates. For AMLC, the event served as a direct operationalization of the command’s core priorities of people, mission and partnerships. “Through the collection of 30 units of blood, AMLC and our mission partners demonstrated how unified effort saves lives, sustains medical capability and strengthens resilience of the joint force,” said Col. Deon Maxwell, AMLC