RAFs Lakenheath, Mildenhall donate more than $106,000 in blood

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  • By Staff Reports
  • 48th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
ROYAL AIR FORCE LAKENHEATH, England --  The Armed Services Blood Drive collected 356 units of blood during a two-day blood drive at RAFs Lakenheath and Mildenhall, May 10 and 11.

Out of the 431 people who donated, 229 were Liberty Warriors, providing almost 200 units of blood.

"In fact, we (the 48th Medical Group) received our monthly shipment of blood May 18, and it was all collected locally - by us, for us!" said Maj. Rob Curtis, 48th Medical Support Squadron lab support operations chief.

The blood drive saved $106,800; if purchased commercially the blood costs $300 per unit.

All blood collected from the drive is used solely within Department of Defense facilities, the majority of which goes to European Command, Africa Command and Central Command. Little, if any, of the blood goes back to the U.S.