Blood Donations for Wounded Soldiers

More than thirty wounded people are recovering from mass shooting at Fort Hood, Texas and many of you may be wanting to help.  One of the easiest ways to do that is by donating blood at Chattanooga's Blood Assurance.

About every two months, Allison Pettit puts on a brave face and pumps out a pint of blood.   "I give because it's easy and I don't mind it and it's something I can do to save a life," she says.  Now, that simple step takes on a new sense of urgency.  Hospitals in Texas have put out a call for donations, trying to treat the thirty victims of the Fort Hood shootings.

Blood Assurance is part of a nation-wide network that could be called upon to send blood to Texas.  "It would be a great way to support the country and the troops and just keep those families in our thoughts and prayers," says Blood Assurance Vice-President of Marketing and Public Relations Director Linda Hisey.

The need might be especially bad because soldiers who've been deployed to Europe within a year can't give.  That's nearly half of the men and women at Fort Hood.  Homeland Security, Hisey says, starts at home.  "These are the types of things why blood is needed and how it's used and why we need to keep prepared as a country."

The need is not likely to go away anytime soon with so many victims.  Blood Assurance needs 400 units a day just to supply its local hospitals.  Keep in mind a car crash survivor can go through 50 units a day.  Now multiply that by the 30 shooting victims in Texas.  "There's constant need going on," says Hisey.  "Whether it's planned surgeries or emergency surgeries you never know."

And that's exactly why Allison is donating today and will likely be back in two months.  "If I can help one person that's enough for me."

O-Negative donors are the most needed because their blood can be given to any patient.

For a list of locations where you can donate blood, click here for Blood Assurance.