Relax ... Give Blood
1 comment for this page [ View ]Wednesday, April 16, 2008
By SAM COOPER
Standard-Examiner staff
Bloodmobile equipped with flat-panel TV, sound system
WASHINGTON TERRACE -- Reclining with a cold beverage and a bag of popcorn while watching a DVD may be the most relaxing way to save a life -- that is, if you're donating blood at the same time.
MountainStar Blood Services, provider of blood products for eight Utah hospitals and the U.S. military, unveiled its new, upgraded bloodmobile Tuesday at Ogden Regional Medical Center.
The 34-foot Chevy van comes with four beds, a microwave oven, DVD player, refrigerator, sound system and flat-panel television, all to make donating as comfortable as possible, said Director Marilyn Peralta.
"Mobile blood drives play a critical role in MountainStar's efforts to maintain an adequate supply of blood by helping to make donations as convenient as possible for area residents," Peralta said. "Two-thirds of our program's donations are collected at mobile drives."
Safety is of the utmost importance when donating blood, Peralta said, but it can be fun as well.
"At the same time, we want them to know they're helping people," she said.
The new mobile unit will be used for nearly 100 blood drives and play host to 4,400 donors across the state during its first year, Peralta said.
MountainStar purchased the bloodmobile from American Custom Coaches in Ontario, Calif., for $165,000. The mobile replaces a 1975 model that broke down and was donated to the Clearfield Job Corps automotive program.
"We're very excited. I hope it will increase our (blood) draws by a couple of thousand pints a year," Peralta said.
Having the mobile gives MountainStar a safe and convenient location to draw the blood, without having to operate out of a side room or an extra office, said spokesman Craig Bielik.
"It also draws attention," he said. "If you have a blood draw in a side room, it's not very visible."
MountainStar Blood Serviceshas been collecting blood for more than 45 years through ongoing stewardship of the local blood supply and Utah patients.
Within the local hospital network, 2,500 units of blood are needed every month. The group estimates more than 90 percent of Americans will need a blood transfusion by age 72.
The next scheduled workday for the bloodmobile will be from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. April 30 at West Liberty Foods, 18 N. 200 East, Tremonton.
Any business, church, community organization, school or club can sponsor a blood drive. For more information about holding one in your area, call (877) 45-BLOOD.
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It appears that the Ambulance in this photo is either a hover-model, or else he's leaving that driveway so fast that he's about to kill the people walking past. Or somebody really sucks at photoshop. Example: you can see the top of the real tire over the fender, while the fake lugnuts on the fake tire are clearly not centered in any way. And the van is floating.