A quest for Donors
United Blood Services hopes to augment decline in donations
To help augment the decline in donations during the summer, United Blood Services of Arizona will be holding their 8th annual campaign designed to inspire more people to give blood.
“During the summer, blood donations can decline by as much as 25 percent,” said Sue Thew, spokesperson with UBS Arizona. “In general, most every place we go we get fewer donors. During the school year, about 22,000 blood donations across Arizona are given at high school blood drives and that comes to practically a standstill during the summer months, so you can imagine having a significant decline in school sponsored drives has a big impact on blood supply.”
“We are the sole supplier of blood components for patients at Yuma Regional Medical Center,” Thew added. “If people go to the hospital needing a life-saving blood transfusion, it will come from a United Blood Services Donor. With a daily need of 500 donors every single day in Arizona, all blood types are needed but always in greatest demand is the 0-negative-that is universal blood type.”
There will be four blood drives held in Yuma throughout June in various locations. According to Thew, UBS Arizona hopes to attract about 50,000 blood donors during their three month summer campaign statewide.
Patients in the Yuma area are expected to require approximately 2,500 blood transfusions during the three month period. Thew said that average need is based on last year’s blood usage.
To help attract blood donors, UBS Arizona has partnered with Valley Volkswagen Dealers for the blood drive campaign. Those who give blood from June 1-August 31 in select locations will be automatically entered to win a 2017 Volkswagen.
In total, seven Valley Volkswagen dealers have donated a new Passat RLine. Blood donors are to receive a Bonus Entry card that provides two additional chances to win by registering the entry code online and by depositing the card in a designated Volkswagen dealer showroom raffle box, according to the UBS Arizona news release.
A group of ten finalists are to be drawn to participate in the grand prize ceremony and be unveiled throughout the summer on AZ-TV.
Yuma Blood Drive locations:
• Tuesday, Jun 6, 10am2pm, United Yuma Fire- fighters Assn, 1 City Plaza, City Hall Learning Ctr
• Wednesday, Jun 7, 8am12pm, Yuma US Marines, Bldg 454 MCAS, Station Gym — Donors with Base Access Only
• Thursday, Jun 8, 10am2pm, Yuma County Health Svs District, 2200 W 28th St, Auditorium
• Friday, Jun 9, 10am2pm, Van’s Warped Tour Blood Drive @ Yuma County Library, 13226 E South Frontage Rd, Meeting Rm
To make a blood donation appointment, call 1-877-UBS-HERO (827-4376) or visit www.BloodHero. com (enter city or zip code).