Blood supply critical

Tuesday, Oct. 15, 2002 | 9:24 a.m.

Nevada's blood supply is in critical condition.

United Blood Services, the supplier for area hospitals, declared the entire state in a critical blood shortage, with all types of blood needed, UBS officials said in a its appeal on Monday.

"Normally, we could rely on Reno, but the entire state is in critical condition," spokesman Dan Perlstein said.

The agency's request for blood is the seventh in Southern Nevada this year. Fewer blood donors statewide and a recent outbreak of viruses in Northern Nevada contributed to the widespread shortage, said Mary Ann Hobaugh, hospital services director for the Las Vegas blood center.

"If our community can't turn this shortage around, we'll have no choice but to declare an emergency shortage soon," Hobaugh said.

If an emergency shortage is declared, elective surgeries at some area hospitals could be canceled, she said.

In Las Vegas the blood center extended its hours for donors on Tuesday through Thursday from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Since Sept. 11, 2001, area hospitals have increased demand for blood and blood products by 9 percent while United Blood Services has experienced a 15 percent decline in donors, Jan Dalby, donor recruitment director, said.

Call 233-9620 for information.