Blood shortage prompts urgent call for donors with Type O

Wednesday, May 3, 2000 | 9:56 a.m.

Las Vegas is not immune to a nationwide blood shortage.

United Blood Services is in need of Type O, often called "universal donor" blood, because it can be used to treat people who have any of the four types.

"We belong to a nationwide system, but because of shortages everywhere, we cannot go to other cities for help," Judith Sligar, associate executive director for United Blood Services, said. "Ordinarily we would go to Reno or Phoenix, but they are in emergency situations.

"This (blood shortage) is very unusual for the springtime."

United Blood Services has at least a week's supply of Types A, B and AB, both positive and negative, but has at times since last Wednesday been down to less than one day's supply of O-positive and O-negative, Sligar said.

O-positive blood can be given to O-positive, A-positive, B-positive and AB-positive recipients, while O-negative can be given to people with any type of blood, either negative or positive.

"We are really in need of Type O donors to come forward," Sligar said. "O-positive is the most common blood type at 37 percent (of the population), but just 6 percent is O-negative.

"Flight for Life (helicopter) paramedics take only O-negative blood on their calls because they don't have the time to type patients at the scene."

An emergency call for 400 units of Type O blood went out late last week in Las Vegas. Over the weekend about that amount came in, but Sligar said usage of blood for emergency situations also was high during that period.

This week United Blood Services is trying to get another 125 units from Type O donors to increase the surplus from two days, as of Monday, to one week's supply -- the recommended minimum amount to have on hand for emergency trauma care.

On Tuesday United Blood Services appealed to tourists at the Alexis Park Resort to help rejuvenate Las Vegas blood supplies.

"We are thankful when people from out of town come forward to help us, as well as for our local donors," Sligar said.

And while the immediate need is for Type O blood, Sligar said no donor will be turned away because the stock of other types has to be maintained as well.

Nationwide, some cities are reporting shortages of all blood types, Sligar said.

For information on donating blood, call United Blood Services at 233-9620 or 438-7563.

Ed Koch is a reporter for the Sun. He can be reached at (702) 259-4090 or by e-mail at koch@lasvegassun.com.