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BTC serves as beating heart of the AOR

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Tim Jenkins
  • 379th Air Expeditionary Wing public affairs
Southwest Asia --  As the sun sets over the desert and darkness falls, a small group of Airmen rises, assembling in a dimly-lit warehouse. The moon fills the night sky as the group works quietly sorting and packaging. They are eerily focused, move with intense purpose and have one thing on their mind -- blood.

They make up the 379th Expeditionary Medical Group Blood Trans-shipment Center, and together they act as the heartbeat of the area of responsibility.

"We're the lifeline," said Maj. Brian Dart, chief of the BTC. "You can give people guns, bombs and mortars, and that's all well and good, but we're taking care of people -- that's the bottom line. The front line is where the real job gets done and they can't do their jobs unless we're doing ours. That's a lot of pressure and we take it very seriously."

The BTC processes more than 2,500 units of blood per month. Each of these products is shipped directly into the AOR and provided to medical facilities in more than 45 locations.

"We have a specific blood collection point in the states, and we try to get them a good estimate of how much blood we need," said Major Dart. "From that point, we have to figure out what is going where. We try to push most everything downrange. One of the most important aspects of that is making sure you get the freshest product out."

The center receives four different products: liquid red blood cells; frozen plasma, which builds volume in the blood stream; frozen red blood cells, which have a longer storage period; and cryoprecipitate, which is used to increase clotting factors in patients.

With such a high quantity of units passing through, the BTC relies heavily on volunteers to keep fresh products moving.

Dan Salinas, 379th Air Expeditionary Wing safety, understands the importance of blood being distributed to the AOR. He is one of the many Air Force survivors severely injured during the Khobar Towers bombing in 1996, and a regular volunteer at the BTC.

"Each and every volunteer that comes to the (BTC) plays a key to the survivability of members down range," he said. "Special care and pride is taken when handling all the blood. Someone's life depends on it. I know this for a fact."

Together with the volunteers, the BTC checks every shipment that arrives, making sure the right number of units and right blood types are there, that the expiration date is correct and that the packages aren't leaking or cracked.

"We ask volunteers to come in and help us when we get large shipments," said Major Dart, "and we get an exceptional response. Sometimes blood comes in and goes out the same night, so our volunteers are extremely important."

One such case happened July 10, when a delayed shipment due to engine troubles needed quick processing the next day. Volunteers from around the installation answered the call for assistance.

"That's when it's crunch time, because you're expecting that flight and then you realize it's not coming in, you get this mad rush because you have stuff coming in and going out at the same time," said Major Dart. "That kind of throws everything off, but it's something you learn to deal with. That's why it's important to have people that you can work with and that everyone works together as a team."

With deadlines tight, team-work is crucial in getting the products off the ground and freshly delivered.

"Until that flight takes off, if that plane doesn't get off the ground, you'll see me pacing the floor," said Major Dart.

Tech. Sgt. Vernon Johnson understands the pressure. As the BTC's medical logistician, he not only ensures the BTC has all the equipment it needs to get the mission done, but also picks up newly-arrived blood products, and after processing, packs them safely on a palette and delivers them to await air transport.

"I know the blood needs to get out there and we can't hold it up," he said.

Senior Airman Kendall Thomas, laboratory technician with the BTC, has the important job of scanning the blood and making sure the blood products remain within the right temperature range, all in an effort to ensure the right blood goes to the right place, and arrives there in top condition.

"This is a new experience for me," said Airman Thomas, who is on his first deployment from Keesler Air Force Base, Miss. "It feels good to know that I'm doing something important and that the work I do is making an impact downrange."