Blood for the Troops Joint Statement

Issued by AABB, America’s Blood Centers, The Red Cross and The Armed Services Blood Program July 20, 2007

The Nation’s Blood Organizations Work Together for the Greater Good

WASHINGTON, Friday, July 20, 2007 — The blood needs of America’s fighting forces are met by the Armed Services Blood Program (ASPB), whose collection practices are designed to maintain self-sufficiency in blood collection and blood product manufacturing for the purpose of operational security.

Blood donations collected by civilian agencies are provided to the ASBP upon request and as needed, to supply specific blood products. In light of the fact that ASBP is essentially self-sufficient, that need is infrequent.

The blood programs that serve this nation work together to ensure that both the civilian and military populations have immediate access to a safe and adequate blood supply. This can only be accomplished through the generosity of volunteer blood donors.

The American Red Cross provides nearly half of the nation's blood supply (collecting more than 6 million units a year from volunteer donors) to patients in 3,000 hospitals across the country through its national network. Every two seconds, someone in America needs blood. The Red Cross must collect blood donations each and every day to meet the needs of accident victims, cancer patients and children with blood disorders, and the organization works to accomplish this through its 36 Blood Services regions. Please call today to make your appointment to give the gift of life. Call 1-800-GIVE-LIFE to schedule your donation or to sponsor a blood drive.