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September blood drive at Scott 'best in years,' but still room for growth

  • Published
  • By Bekah Clark
  • 375th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs
SCOTT AIR FORCE BASE, Ill. --  During its monthly blood drive at Scott Sept. 14, the American Red Cross saw the highest turnout in recent years, garnering 134 pints of blood and 40 first-time donors.

This is about 40 pints of blood more than the next highest blood donation amount and is double the amount of first-time donors the Red Cross has ever seen at Scott.

After learning that Scott averages about 75 to 90 pints of donated blood each month, Col. Mike Hornitschek, 375th Air Mobility Wing commander, challenged the base personnel and eligible family members to "far exceed" 100 pints of blood in an e-mail and Facebook post the morning of the blood drive.

"I'm extremely pleased that the Scott Community rose to the challenge I presented them with," said Colonel Hornitschek, "and there's still room to grow. With more than 10,000 military and civilian personnel working at Scott, we're able to donate much more than 100 pints of blood each month, and I hope this increase in donations continues for the long haul."

To donors, this month's drive might have included some long lines and longer-than-usual wait times, which Stephanie Pitt, Scott's American Red Cross station manager, attributes to historically smaller turnouts.

"If the Scott community proves to Blood Services that we're going to have substantial monthly donations, they'll send the beds and the staff to accommodate that increase," she said. "We have to show them that those extra beds and staff will be gainfully employed while they're here."

Ms. Pitt hopes this trend of increasing donations continues.

"For every unit of blood collected up to three people's lives can be saved," said Ms. Pitt.
Approximately 38 percent of the entire American population is eligible to donate - this includes limiting factors like age, health conditions, travel, and other requirements. This proportionally equates to more 3800 eligible donors at Scott.

"Human blood, and its components, cannot be substituted, which is why an active donor community is so necessary," said Ms. Pitt, "especially when every one in 10 who enters a hospital is in need of blood."