Giving blood for various reasons
A few things in this life are certain: Death and taxes are among the few and one need that continues to be present in Utah is the need for blood.
Blood given throughout the state is often used in blood transfusions. The ARUP Web site lists some recipients of transfusions, such as cancer patients, leukemia patients, burn patients, those receiving organ or bone marrow transplants, premature babies and victims of traumatic injuries and accidents.
Blood
There are three entities that collect blood for the state of Utah: The American Association of the Red Cross, ARUP and MountainStar Blood Services.
Together, these entities work to collect enough blood to meet the needs of hospitals and clinics throughout the state.
Each one of these organization works to bring blood to certain areas as well.
The Red Cross runs an extensive operation throughout the state of Utah.
“The American Red Cross hosts seven mobile blood drives across the state each business day and maintains donor centers in Salt Lake City, Ogden, Orem and St. George,” states the Utah Donor Registry Web site.
“We focus on supplying the blood needs for major medical centers. The big name ones in Salt Lake: University of Utah Hospital and clinics, the Huntsman Cancer Institute and the only two children’s hospitals in Utah, Primary Children’s and Shriners Hospital,” said Cindie Quintana, a public relations representative for ARUP.
MountainStar has a similar operation.
“MountainStar provides blood to 11 area hospitals. They collect blood at mobile sites and their main site at Ogden Regional Medical Center,” states the Utah Donor Registry Web site.
Students at Utah State University have had much to do with helping get enough blood for the state.
The university, along with the Logan LDS Institute, has held numerous blood drives throughout the years, with two already completed last semester alone.
Each organization that receives the blood has a desired amount to collect. ARUP collects about 25 percent of the blood for the state.
Each month, they try to collect 1,500 units (pints) of blood. MountainStar collects 1,600-1,800 units and the Red Cross more than 3,000 units each month.
The individuals reason for donating may range from altruism to just wanted the free juice and cookies.
Plasma
Plasma is another story. Western Plasma Bank is located in Logan and offers people throughout the valley the opportunity to make some quick money while providing a service to others.
Samantha Archibald, a sophomore in psychology, and a quality assurance person with the bank, said there are a significant number of students who come to the center.
“We see a lot of students here, what with the university being so close and all. The range is pretty wide, though,” she said. “All sorts of people will come in after work or on their days off and donate.”
She commented on the uses of plasma compared to a blood donation.
“We gather around 500-600 bottles each week. These bottles are just filled with a persons’ plasma while returning the rest of the blood back to the body. We sell this blood to corporations that produce medicines and other means to fight off infection and disease,” she said.
This provides the financial compensation for those who do donate.
“The first time a person comes in, after all the screening and everything, we give them $20. The second time, we up it to $50,” Archibald said.
“Each visit after the initial two, we pay them $15 for a donation. It doesn’t seem like a lot, but it adds up quick with a couple visits a week.”
-nebutler@cc.usu.edu