An official website of the United States government
A .mil website belongs to an official U.S. Department of Defense organization in the United States.
A lock (lock ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .mil website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

Tripler hosts blood drive at Hickam

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Gustavo Gonzalez
  • 15th Wing Public Affairs
JOINT BASE PEARL HARBOR HICKAM, Hawaii --  For some people blood is a tough sight to see. But, June 17 was an exception for those who showed up willing to have their harms pocked with a needle.

The Armed Services Blood Program, hosted by Tripler Army Medical Center, held a blood drive at the Consolidated Maintenance Complex here.

"We are collecting blood to help support troops deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan and to help support any local emergencies," said U.S. Army Sgt. David Walker, Tripler Army Medical Center blood donor center supply NCO.

Staff Sgt. Maverick Quartero, 154th Maintenance Squadron avionics technician, has always donated blood since he was in high school and doesn't get to go to the blood bank as often as he'd like.

"Whenever they're doing a blood drive here at the CMC, I always try to stop by," he said. "In my (career field), I haven't been down range very often and I know there are fellow Airmen out there going through a lot of hard times and I want to do whatever I can here to help them out."

According to Sergeant walker, one unit of blood can save as many as three different lives. More than 45 units of blood on average are collected when the blood drive is held at Hickam.

"Every unit counts," Sergeant Walker said.