People can give blood beginning Monday
This story originally appeared in the Sept. 12, 2001, edition of The Sun.
Yuma's Good Samaritans who want to donate blood in the wake of the World Trade Center and Pentagon tragedies will have to wait until Monday to roll up their sleeves.
According to Pam Orendorf, Yuma Regional Medical Center media relations department secretary, the hospital has received numerous calls from citizens wishing to donate blood.
“We have had many, many, many calls,” she said. “The outcry has been great.”
Unfortunately, because YRMC's lab does not have the supplies necessary to draw that volume of blood, the hospital has looked toward the American Red Cross and United Blood Services for mobile blood units. But because of the demand in Phoenix and Tucson, mobile units will not be in Yuma until Monday, when a scheduled drive will take place, Orendorf said.
“There is nothing set up in Yuma,” she said. “It's a shame – we don't have any way to get (blood) from these people.”
United Blood Services is focusing its efforts in Phoenix and Tucson this week to maximize “every piece of equipment and every staff member,” said Sharon Ryan, regional spokeswoman for United Blood Services.
But there will be an ongoing need for blood and blood platelets, she said. Therefore, she said, it is important that Yumans respond to next week's blood drives that had already been scheduled here before Tuesday's events.
Ryan asked that people make appointments to donate blood so “we will be best prepared to take care of the demand.” She added that if enough people call, hours could be expanded.
She said so far, Arizona's UBS has not been called to contribute blood to the East Coast, “but we expect that call to come in the next day or two.”
Blood donors must be 17 years or older, weigh at least 110 pounds, not have donated in the past eight weeks and be in good health.
Orendorf said that people who call the hospital are being transferred to a blood drive informational line. The line will be updated if the Red Cross or UBS are able to send a mobile unit before next week, she said. Those interested in donated blood can call 344-2000, ext. 4000.
