MARINE CORPS AIR STATION MIRAMAR, Calif. -- The Naval Medical Center San Diego is part of the Armed Services Blood Program and their mission is to provide quality blood products and services to all customers during war or times of peace.

The center held a blood drive Jan. 26 at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar to maintain a consistent supply of blood and blood products.

“Our mission is to acquire blood units,” said Doreen Rekoski, blood donor recruiter and public affairs specialist, NMCSD. “If you donate with us you are helping the troops and their families. We need to always have an inventory so we will always be prepared.”

The blood that is acquired by the center is used only for personnel that are associated with the government. Any Department of Defense personnel or family member is authorized to give blood as well as receive blood services.

“We take from our own to help our own,” said Rekoski, a native of Phoenix. “We only support the military or anybody that is associated with the government.”

Blood units are sent to Iraq every week and limited donors contribute to the high demand for blood.

“This has historically been a hard time,” said Rekoski, “This has been a hard time for the military as well as the civilian community.”

Many service members have deployed to Iraq. This disqualifies them from giving blood for the first year after they return because they may have been exposed to malaria.

“A lot of Marines can’t donate because they just got back from Iraq and they may have been exposed to malaria,” said Rekoski.

Seaman Erle N. Arnold, medical lab technician, NMCSD, said that the malaria virus is capable of lying dormant for up to a year.

“When someone receives blood they are not in the best of health,” said Arnold, a 25-year-old native of Union City, Ga. “We don’t want to make the situation worse.”

The O blood type is in high demand because it is classified as a universal blood type. Anybody can receive it.

Blood contains antibodies and antigens. If different blood types are mixed, the antibodies will recognize the other blood’s antigens as a virus and attack. The O blood type contains no antigens and as a result, the antibodies will not attack O blood.

According to Rekoski, blood has three components, red blood cells, platelets and plasma. These are used to produce vital blood products. Platelets are small cells that help the blood clot. If a service member is wounded in action, a shot of platelets will help their wound stop bleeding.

Rekoski recommends a donor wait at least two months before donating blood. The body needs this time to regenerate. The blood drive takes place on MCAS Miramar every two months.

“This is for a good cause,” said Cpl. Timothy H. Brown, training noncommissioned officer, Marine Wing Communication Squadron 38, Marine Air Control Group 38, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing. “There was a time when my family needed blood so it’s always been important for us to give when we can.”

“If someone is losing blood, the only thing that will help them is more blood,” said Rekoski.