VANCOUVER, Wash., Oct. 25 /PRNewswire/ -- As the new Legacy Salmon Creek Hospital nears completion, Puget Sound Blood Center announced the launch of its Southwest Washington Blood Program, created to address the community’s growing need for blood and medical services.
“The Southwest Washington Blood Program will allow Puget Sound Blood Center to better serve the community,” said Richard Counts, M.D., president and CEO of the Blood Center. “In Clark and Cowlitz Counties last year, the Blood Center collected 1,700 units -- while providing more than 9,400 units of red blood cells. Over the past five years the need for blood has grown beyond the amount collected here. The Southwest Washington Blood Program will allow us to address this disparity and continue our mission of providing the community with a stable and available blood supply.”
As part of the new blood program, the Blood Center will introduced a new, state-of-the-art bloodmobile exclusively dedicated to managing blood collection operations blood in Southwest Washington. Puget Sound Blood Center currently operates nine blood center locations and 14 mobile blood collections throughout the state.
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, according to a Blood Center executive, is part of its commitment to serving the community.
The Blood Center invites the community to view the new vehicle over a three-day “open house” at blood drives in the area. Blood Center representatives will be available to answer questions, discuss the Southwest Washington Blood Program and, of course, show off the new vehicle. A local Blood Center patient, Keith Ballew, will also be available to tell his story. For those interested in attending, the bloodmobile will be on display at these drives:
Oct. 28 Blood drive in the parking lot of Southwest Hospital -- 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., 400 NE Mother Joseph Pl. Oct. 29 Blood drive in the parking lot at the Westfield Shoppingtown -- 1 p.m. to 7 p.m., 8700 NE Vancouver Mall Dr. Oct. 30 Blood drive in the parking lot at Fred Meyer -- 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., 16600 SE McGillivray Blvd.
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.
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 quite 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 existing institutional branding, the inspiring ad campaign “Imagine Saving a Life.” The Blood Center anticipates that the vehicle will collect blood in the community 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 http://www.psbc.org/.
Puget Sound Blood Center
CONTACT: Steve McLean of Puget Sound Blood Center, +1-206-292-6511, orpager, +1-206-680-2610
Web site: http://www.psbc.org/