Need for blood donors is high in summer

Often, the supply of willing arms can't keep up with the demand for blood donors.

ARUP blood services serves four local hospitals that together need 70 pints of blood every day, said Karen Nielson, president and group manager for ARUP Services.

Some hospitals need more blood in the summer due to the types of injuries they treat. According to Nielson, the hospitals served by ARUP need more blood because they see an increase in trauma patients.

But as need for donations increases, donations decrease in the summer. Donations decrease between Memorial Day and Labor Day, said Judy Christensen a local director of communication for Red Cross Blood Services. During the summer people are traveling and doing things with their families or friends. They get busy so they don't donate, Christensen said.

High school and university students who contribute a significant amount of Utah's blood supply are out of school, so they don't donate at school. Brigham Young University is the largest donation sponsor to the Utah Red Cross. BYU students gave more than 4,000 blood donations last year, Christensen said.

"The need for blood never stops," said Dr. Annie Strupp, medical director for Red Cross Blood Services.

Donated blood goes to accident victims, cancer patients, a number of transplant recipients and many people with chronic conditions such as sickle cell disease, according to the American Red Cross.

"Just about anyone can need blood," Strupp said.

To find out more call 1-800-GIVE-LIFE or go to www.utahblood.org.

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