News & Events | Press Release: Blood Center Launches New Blood Program in Southwest Washington

DECEMBER 20, 2004, VANCOUVER, WA — With the holiday season hitting full stride, Puget Sound Blood Center plans to bring the gift of life to Longview. Serving the community since 1996, the organization announced the launch of its Southwest Washington Blood Program, dedicated specifically to meet the region’s increasing need for blood.

Addressing the gap between the amount of blood collected by the Blood Center and the amount it provides to local patients, hinges on offering more community drives. This disparity, coupled with St. John Medical Center’s plans for growth, were factors in launching the program.

“Last year, the Blood Center collected 1,700 units -- while providing more than 9,400 units of red blood cells in Southwest Washington hospitals,” said Richard Counts, M.D., president and CEO of the Blood Center. “Our increased presence in the area affords donors greater opportunities to donate and allows us to continue providing the community with a stable blood supply.”

To launch the new program in Longview, the Blood Center will host a special two-day blood drive that features its new, state-of-the art bloodmobile. The drive will take place at St. John Medical Center on Dec. 29 and 30, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. near the hospital.

"We fully support Puget Sound Blood Center in its blood drive efforts,” said Sue Oliver, director of Volunteer Services. “Our hospital receives all of its blood through its partnership, so we are excited to host their new mobile unit Dec. 29 and 30 in our Douglas Street parking lot. St. John also supports the Blood Center’s efforts to raise community awareness about the importance of giving blood here in Cowlitz County."

While the bloodmobile itself is new, the Blood Center has a long and distinguished history of serving the community. The non-profit organization is celebrating 60 years of service to Western Washington, and has provided blood to five hospitals in Cowlitz and Clark County since 1996. The Southwest Washington Blood Program is part of its commitment to serving the community.

The Blood Center invites the media to view the new vehicle during the drives at St. John. Blood Center representatives will be available to answer questions, discuss the Southwest Washington Blood Program and, of course, show off the new vehicle.

Members of the press are invited to attend the drives and take a tour of the blood mobile. Interested media should contact Steve McLean, Public Information Manager at 206-680-2610 (pager) or
206-292-6511 (main phone). For those interested in learning more about scheduling a blood drive or donating blood, please contact Jeff Carrick at 360-254-3708.

Local offices, which maintain the vehicle and a six person blood collection staff, are located at 3506 Main St., Vancouver, WA, 98663.

Blood Mobile Features
At 40’ long, the new bloodmobile was designed by the Blood Center to provide maximum comfort and accessibility. Outfitted with both a front and rear entrance, the vehicle will come equipped with two screening rooms, five donor beds and a full post-donation canteen area. The vehicle also features a new generation of quiet 20-kilowatt generators, a microwave oven, two small refrigerators and three roof-mounted air conditioners. While the vehicle will utilize the very same blood collection equipment that is used in all nine of the Blood Center locations, it has been outfitted with specially designed foldaway brackets and tables, to ensure that the space is effectively utilized.

The exterior design -- blue skies surrounding a child imagining a better world – is consistent with the Blood Center’s community awareness campaign, “Imagine Saving a Life.” The Blood Center anticipates that the vehicle will collect blood in Southwest Washington four to six times a week, or approximately 20-30 drives per month.

About Puget Sound Blood Center
Celebrating 60 years in the community, the Blood Center is internationally recognized for groundbreaking research in transfusion and transplantation medicine. The nonprofit Blood Center is the resource for patients in Western Washington who need blood, tissue and specialized laboratory services. Founded in 1944, the Blood Center has a long and unique tradition of blending community volunteerism, medical science and research to improve patients’ lives. The organization directly affects the lives of over a half million patients annually in more than 70 hospitals and clinics in 14 counties of Washington State and provides tissue and transplantation support to 185 hospitals across the Northwest. For more information, visit www.psbc.org.