Tabitha Riess, Donor Specialist, inserts a needle into the arm of Pfc. Chase Gross, student, Marine Corps Communication-Electronics School, to begin drawing blood during a blood donation event hosted by Headquarters Battalion and Desert Blood Services at the base Catholic chapel April 22, 2014. Desert Blood Services comes to the Combat Center frequently and travels from unit to unit to give service members and Combat Center patrons an opportunity to donate.

Photo by Cpl. Charles Santamaria

Combat Center Marines donate blood

22 Apr 2014 | Cpl. Charles Santamaria Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms

MARINE CORPS AIR GROUND COMBAT CENTER TWENTYNINE PALMS, Calif. --

Headquarters Battalion, along with Desert Blood Services, hosted a blood drive at the base catholic chapel April 22, 2014. Desert Blood visits the Combat Center frequently to offer service members and Combat Center patrons an opportunity to donate their blood.

Their services are offered to a different unit each time in the hopes that the opportunity to donate is as available as possible. Each event has a goal they strive to meet. The goal for the event on Tuesday was 20 people. Each blood donor gives approximately one pint at the end of each drawing.

Anyone interested must meet certain criteria to be eligible to donate. Some of the disqualifications are no tattoos within the last year or anyone who weighs less than 110 pounds. These requirements, among others, must be met to ensure that it is safe for the participant to donate and that the blood being given to someone who needs it won’t be harmed.

For questions about donating or to see when the next available opportunity to donate is, contact the Desert Blood Service offices at 760-830-8844. You can also look up information about blood donations or the organization at www.desertbloodservices.org.