Valley Blood Supply at Critical Low

Contact: Larissa Spraker, 623-882-1502
01/13/2004

In response to the Valley's blood supply shortage, West Valley Hospital in Goodyear, Arizona is holding a community blood drive on Friday, January 23 from 7:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. on the hospital campus at 136th Avenue and McDowell Road.

The Valley's newest hospital is a significant provider of health care in the Southwest Valley, with an emergency department that sees approximately 150 patients each day. "Having blood available is critical for the care of many of our patients, for those who sustain a trauma, need surgery or even a blood transfusion," said Scott Bingham, D.O., chairman of the department of emergency medicine at West Valley Hospital.

"Fortunately this shortage hasn't yet compromised patient care, and with good community participation this blood drive will help reduce the shortage the Valley is currently experiencing," said Dr. Bingham.

This is West Valley Hospital's first blood drive, and the first official blood drive bringing members of the Southwest community together to help their community hospital and the Valley's shortage at large.

According to United Blood Services, blood supply in the Valley is critically low. Nearly 600 hospital orders went unfilled on January 12 due to the shortage. Only five percent of the population donate blood, and one out of three people will need a transfusion in their lifetime.

Donors must be 17 years of age or older and weigh at least 110 pounds. Please call Larissa Spraker at 623-882-1502 to set an appointment to donate. Walk-ins also welcome at the hospital campus on Friday, January 23.

All donors will be entered into a drawing to win two round trip airline tickets to Las Vegas, courtesy of American West Airlines.