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Blood Trans-Shipment Center: Vital to AOR cells

  • Published
  • By By Senior Airman Michael Matkin
  • 379th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs
Southwest Asia --  When servicemembers are wounded in battle and in need of blood, they are transported to a nearby medical facility where they will receive the required number and types of units. Just as the 379th Air Expeditionary Wing is the hub for servicemembers moving throughout the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility, the 379th Expeditionary Medical Group Blood Trans-Shipment Center is the hub for pumping life-saving blood products throughout the AOR.

"We provide blood products to the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility, as well as the Horn of Africa and Naval ships," said Maj. Clarence Gagni, Chief of the Blood Trans-Shipment Center, deployed from Langley Air Force Base, Va. "Our main goal is getting the freshest blood to all areas of the AOR as quickly as possible."

"The BTC processes around 1,000 blood product units weekly. The products we handle are fresh and frozen red blood cells, fresh frozen plasma, and cryoprecipitate," said Staff Sgt. Kristy Crochran BTC NCO in-charge, also deployed from Langley AFB.

"Fresh frozen plasma is transfused when a patient requires additional clotting factors to enable the body to stop bleeding and help heal itself," Sergeant Crochran said. She continued to explain that cryoprecipitate is a concentrated product that contains Factors VIII, fibrinogen, Factor XIII, and fibronectin - all which are specific clotting agents, used when bleeding is so severe that blood is unable to clot and the bleeding continues regardless of how much blood is transfused into the patient.

"Red blood cells can actually be frozen and stored for up to 10 years before it expires," Major Gagni said. "This is done by adding a special cryoprotectant chemical, called glycerol. Glycerol permeates the red blood cell membrane so that there are equal chemicals both inside and outside the cell; this balances the pressure on the cell so they do not swell and burst."

The process of collecting blood and blood products begins at the arms of eligible donors. Major Gagni and SSgt Crochran stressed how important it is for those that are capable of donating to 'roll up their sleeves.' "It's just a small price to pay that has such a long-lasting effect on someone else," Sergeant Crochran said. After it undergoes extensive laboratory testing, it is transferred to one of two Armed Services Whole Blood Processing Laboratories and then shipped to the 379 EMDG BTC.

Ensuring the various medical facilities throughout the AOR have the blood supply they need can be a challenge for the CENTCOM Joint Blood Program Officer and BTC. It is up to this small team of six to provide a balance among all the sites where blood is needed. Too much or too little can impact another facility and can, ultimately, impact lives being saved or lost. "Each AOR facility needs to have the right amount of blood for the people they need to treat," Major Gagni said.

To make sure the AOR has the freshest blood available it is critical for shipments to take place at their scheduled times. The BTC relies solely on cargo aircraft from the 379 AEW in transporting blood to key locations in the AOR. "Our constant communication with the staff at the Air Mobility Division, Transportation Management Office and Special Handling must always be effective and paramount. One tiny overlooked detail could result in a shipment not going out on time which, in turn, could result in a medical treatment facility not having the adequate or appropriate blood products and types. Our job is too important that even having one close call is unacceptable," Sergeant Crochran said. "It is a direct reminder that we are part of the fight. Knowing that the blood we are sending downrange is changing and saving lives makes this deployment very rewarding in itself. We may not be on the front lines, but we are doing everything possible to make sure those who are come home alive."

"Our supply is your supply and just one donation can save three lives," Major Gagni said.

Although blood drives are not conducted on base due to the logistics of processing it and testing that it is safe for transfusion, there are still ways for servicemembers to contribute to this all-important mission, Major Gagni said. Every Saturday at 12:30 a.m. the BTC needs up to 15 volunteers for two to three hours to help process the blood products. This is accomplished by verifying the integrity of the blood units by taking temperatures, comparing manifests, and inspecting for damaged containers. Once this is done, BTC members scan the blood products into the Defense Blood Standard System which maintains accountability for each product. The BTC team would then fulfill the amount of blood needed at each site by packaging the same blood products that were just recently received so they could fly out the same day. This collective effort drastically reduces the storage time here at the BTC and ensures fresh blood goes to the front lines.

Transporting blood throughout the AOR saves lives and members of the BTC and volunteers here at the 379 AEW make it happen.