Blood donors sought for LV challenge

Caitlin Hudgins

Friday, July 23, 2004 | 8:16 a.m.

Every July and August, just when fun-lovers start participating in warm-weather, high-risk activities, blood stores hit their yearly low.

To make matters worse, Las Vegas snowbirds have traveled to cooler climates, students are working and families are on vacation, so there aren't many regular donors around to give blood in the summer, United Blood Services spokesman Dan Perlstein said.

To boost the Las Vegas Valley's supplies, the Southern Nevada Firefighters and United Blood Services are holding the 3rd Annual Firefighters' Challenge Blood Drive from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday at Cashman Center.

The blood drive was created in 2002 to honor the firefighters who lost their lives on Sept. 11.

"I couldn't think of a better way to honor fallen heroes than by saving a life," Perlstein said.

To encourage firefighters to participate, the blood drives are structured around a competition among the six fire departments in Southern Nevada. Las Vegas Fire and Rescue has won the trophy since the event was initiated.

The goal of the Firefighters' Challenge is to get 343 people to donate blood, Perlstein said, because 343 firefighters died in the line of duty at the World Trade Center. The first blood drive accomplished that goal, but last year's event fell short, with only 105 donors.

With three new Las Vegas area hospitals predicted to need 4,000 units of blood each this year, the 2004 blood drive can't afford to fail, Perlstein said. Fifty percent of the population is eligible to donate, he said, but only 2.5 percent of Las Vegans do.

"The goal is not just to increase the number of units in Las Vegas on a daily basis, but also to drum up a sense of patriotic duty," he said.

Donors who fulfill that duty won't be turned away empty-handed.

Everyone who donates blood Saturday will receive an autographed poster by former paramedic and current local firefighter and artist Allan Albaitis. The back of each piece of artwork bears the name of a fallen New York City firefighter.

All donors will also receive a commemorative firefighter's guardian angel pin.

In addition, local dairy Meadow Gold and Krispy Kreme will be serving refreshments at the drive.

In exchange for the goodies, donors can give more than just blood.

The Southern Nevada Burn Foundation will be raffling off collectible wooden fire trucks to benefit young burn victims.

Las Vegas Fire and Rescue will be raising money for Capt. Theo Adams, who was injured last October when his fire truck rolled over while exiting U.S. 95 on the Rainbow Boulevard off-ramp.

"He was injured in the line of duty responding to a call -- that's the risk they take," Perlstein said.

Accidents like Adams' are what push Southern Nevada's 24 hospitals over their capacities to provide transfusions. Since each person injured in an automobile accident needs about 50 to 60 units of blood, he said, a few collisions can wipe out a hospital's supply.

"We're always on the fragile side of walking that tight rope," Perlstein said.

Las Vegas Valley hospitals need a total of about 250 to 300 units every day, but medical facilities recently went through the supply of blood predicted to be necessary for a year in half that time. At that point Perlstein fully recognized Las Vegas' dire need for donors.

"This is a big city -- we used to export patients, but it's all happening here now," he said. "We are at rock bottom as far as donating blood."

Eligible donors must be at least 17 years old and 110 pounds. Donating typically takes 60 to 90 minutes. For more information, call (702) 228-4483.