United Blood Services conducted a countywide blood drive last week.
Wendy Smith, supervisor with United Blood Services in Las Vegas, said it had been about two years since they had come to Lincoln County.
Smith supervised the donations in Alamo and Panaca. “We’ve had a good turnout here in Alamo. We had 18 appointments and a lot of walk-ins. We were projected to do 13 today, so I think we will go over that.”
Alamo had nine first time donors, and 24 successful donations, making 28 total successful donations.
Smith said in Panaca, they saw about 28 people.
Panaca was more quiet this year, Laura Alvarado, coordinator for the Lincoln County area said, with 26 successful donations, and 11 automated donations. Automated donations collect pure red blood cells and count as 2 units each. Panaca gathered 37 units total.
“Normally, they are a lot busier, but there has been a lot of sickness in the community right now, so we just had about 17 turn out, but Panaca was good.”
Alvarado said Pioche received 16 participants, including two first-time donors. Pioche collected 18 successful donations.
Caliente had 16 participants that included three first-time donors. 13 total successful donations were collected.
Smith said United Blood Services supplies the hospitals in the Las Vegas area as well as the Grover C. Dils Hospital in Caliente, and the hospital in Ely.
She was very pleased with the county turnout, because on her notes from two years ago, it showed the turnout was less than half of what it was this time.
Alvarado said the county as a whole, received 79 successful donors, and 96 total donations. From those, 14 participants were new, first-time donors.
Alvarado said they are hoping to have the service come back to the county in July.
