Compassionate Capitalism - July 2001

United Blood Services

Helping Nevadans Donate the Gift of Life

by Kathleen Foley

United Blood Services (UBS), a nonprofit community blood center, provides blood and blood products for patients in Nevada medical facilities. "We rely on community-minded, volunteer blood donors to help us supply these life-saving transplants," said Judith Sligar, associate executive director for United Blood Services of Las Vegas. The Las Vegas office serves 18 hospitals in a 50,000-square-mile area spanning Southern Nevada and nearby areas of Arizona and California. United Blood Services of Reno covers the rest of the state, including all the rural counties, and also serves California communities in the eastern Sierras. Nationally, UBS, a division of Blood Systems, Inc., provides blood for patients in more than 900 hospitals in 12 states.

The main concern of both Nevada UBS organizations is a shortfall in the amount of blood donated. Nevada is facing an increased need for blood, caused by several factors, including a growing population, increased admissions to emergency rooms and the ability of local hospitals to perform sophisticated medical procedures such as organ transplants, which used to be done out of state. At the same time demand has been increasing, the donor base has been shrinking. According to Sligar, members of the older generation, who were raised to be faithful blood donors, are reaching the age when many cannot give blood because of health problems.

"Over 50 percent of the population, or about 800,000 people in Southern Nevada, are medically eligible to give blood, yet actual blood donors total only about 3,500," said Sligar. This represents about 2.5 percent of the population. Statistics for Northern Nevada and the rural areas are not much better, with an average of 5 percent of the population donating blood annually, according to Alana Ladd-Ross, community relations director for UBS of Reno. Medical facilities in Southern Nevada require over 72,000 units of red blood cells per year, but only 67,200 units were collected in 2000. About 31,000 units are needed by the rest of the state, according to Ladd-Ross, who said last year they fell short of their target number by 200 units.

"People in Nevada have incredible hearts," said Sligar. "When we issue a bulletin on local television stations that our supplies are running low, we always get a quick response. But, I don’t think people realize we have shortages on a daily basis. We only advertise on TV when we get to the point of not having enough blood to last 48 hours. Because of our nationwide network of affiliates, we have been able to import blood from other areas to avoid disaster, but I’m sure we’d all sleep better at night knowing we had a secure supply of blood coming in each and every day." Ladd-Ross reported that many people have come forward to donate blood on behalf of the children in the Fallon area who have developed leukemia. These victims and other cancer patients require platelets, because chemotherapy destroys these clotting factors in their blood.

One way UBS is attempting to solve this chronic shortage is through educating young people, starting at the elementary school level. The "Be a Hero" program explains to youngsters that volunteer blood donors save lives. It not only encourages them to talk to the adults in their lives about donating blood, but also prepares them to become donors when they are older. High school and college blood drives have been very successful. Twenty percent of all units collected in Southern Nevada come from blood drives at local high schools, and the figure in Northern Nevada is close to 12 percent.

Both UBS offices are facing a season of continued shortages, because people often do not think about donating blood during the summer. "Seventy percent of the people you know will need blood or blood products at some time in their lives," said Ladd-Ross. "We encourage everyone to give blood, the gift of life."

Action Steps:

As an individual, find out if you are eligible to donate blood, and do so as often as possible.

Encourage others to join you in donating blood.

If your firm has at least 200 employees, ask UBS about arranging a company blood drive.

Blood drives may also be organized by clubs, churches and fraternal organizations.

 Coming events:

• Throughout the month of August, Model Dairy will sponsor the 10th Annual "Pint for a Pint" blood drive with UBS of Reno. Blood donors receive a pint of Model Dairy ice cream after each blood donation.

• On November 15, UBS of Las Vegas will host a Tribute to Life dinner at the Texas Station Conference Center, with awards for local groups and individuals who have assisted its efforts. Proceeds from a live auction and silent auction will benefit its educational programs.

• Phone numbers:

Southern Nevada 702-228-8400

Northern Nevada 800-696-4484

Kathleen Foley
Kathleen Foley is a freelance writer based in Southern Nevada.