02-23-2007, 05:10 AM
You'll never know when you need blood. But when you do, there is only one source - human donors.
An auto accident on the Front Range in January might appear to have no connection to southwest Colorado. But the accident touched home for a Bayfield man and illustrates the need for a continual and reliable supply of blood everywhere.
Tyler Carron and Nikko Landeros, high school students in Berthoud, were struck by a vehicle on a snowy road on Jan. 15 while they were removing a spare tire from the back of a truck. Both boys' lost both of their legs at the knees.
Tyler is the nephew of Cary Carron, a district wildlife manager for the Colorado Division of Wildlife in Bayfield. The youngster has been operated on 15 times since the accident.
Combined, the boys needed 20 pints of blood during their ordeal. On average, the human body contains from about eight to 12 pints of blood.
To help bolster supplies in the Four Corners area, the Durango office of the Colorado Division of Wildlife and United Blood Services are holding two blood drives in Durango and Bayfield.
March 5: Bayfield, 2-6 p.m. at the Pine Valley Four Square Church, 1328 County Road 501.
March 6: Durango, 1-6 p.m. Durango Recreation Center, 2700 Main Street.
The blood donated will not go to the injured boys but will be used to maintain supplies for the Four Corners region in Colorado, Utah, New Mexico and Arizona, explained Nancy Kline, a representative of United Blood Services in Durango.
"After people heard about this accident we had a lot of calls from individuals in this area asking how they could help," Kline said. "Accidents like this show how crucial it is to always maintain strong supplies of blood everywhere."
In the Four Corners, about 700 units of blood are needed every month. A unit is one pint - 16 ounces. Blood is good for only 42 days.
"We always need blood," Kline said. "In a severe auto accident it's not uncommon for emergency workers and hospitals to need 50 units. And blood is always needed for surgery patients in area hospitals."
After blood is taken, it is sent to a laboratory in Albuquerque to be tested. After it is deemed safe it is distributed throughout the Four Corners.
Patt Dorsey, area wildlife manager for the DOW in Durango, asked area residents to consider that they could be in a situation someday when they need blood in an emergency.
"When it comes to blood, we're all in this together," Dorsey said.
At the blood drives, the DOW will also provide some entertainment and shooting practice with its DART trailer. The trailer uses computer simulation to present various shooting scenarios in hunting situations. The trailer offers great fun and a test of skill. Children and adults can participate.
At the drives people can also make donations that will go to the families of the injured boys. Businesses or individuals also are invited to contribute items for a silent auction.
Donors can go directly to the blood drive sites or make an appointment by calling the United Blood Center office at 385-4601. Donors can also go on-line at www.bloodhero.com; use the code TCNL for the March 5 blood drive in Bayfield or tylernikko for the March 6 blood drive in Durango.
Anyone who would like to contribute silent auction items should call Dorsey at the DOW's Durango office: 274-0855.
For those who can't attend either of these days, a city-sponsored drive is scheduled for 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. March 7 at the Durango Recreation Center.
For more information about Division of Wildlife go to: http://wildlife.state.co.us.
An auto accident on the Front Range in January might appear to have no connection to southwest Colorado. But the accident touched home for a Bayfield man and illustrates the need for a continual and reliable supply of blood everywhere.
Tyler Carron and Nikko Landeros, high school students in Berthoud, were struck by a vehicle on a snowy road on Jan. 15 while they were removing a spare tire from the back of a truck. Both boys' lost both of their legs at the knees.
Tyler is the nephew of Cary Carron, a district wildlife manager for the Colorado Division of Wildlife in Bayfield. The youngster has been operated on 15 times since the accident.
Combined, the boys needed 20 pints of blood during their ordeal. On average, the human body contains from about eight to 12 pints of blood.
To help bolster supplies in the Four Corners area, the Durango office of the Colorado Division of Wildlife and United Blood Services are holding two blood drives in Durango and Bayfield.
March 5: Bayfield, 2-6 p.m. at the Pine Valley Four Square Church, 1328 County Road 501.
March 6: Durango, 1-6 p.m. Durango Recreation Center, 2700 Main Street.
The blood donated will not go to the injured boys but will be used to maintain supplies for the Four Corners region in Colorado, Utah, New Mexico and Arizona, explained Nancy Kline, a representative of United Blood Services in Durango.
"After people heard about this accident we had a lot of calls from individuals in this area asking how they could help," Kline said. "Accidents like this show how crucial it is to always maintain strong supplies of blood everywhere."
In the Four Corners, about 700 units of blood are needed every month. A unit is one pint - 16 ounces. Blood is good for only 42 days.
"We always need blood," Kline said. "In a severe auto accident it's not uncommon for emergency workers and hospitals to need 50 units. And blood is always needed for surgery patients in area hospitals."
After blood is taken, it is sent to a laboratory in Albuquerque to be tested. After it is deemed safe it is distributed throughout the Four Corners.
Patt Dorsey, area wildlife manager for the DOW in Durango, asked area residents to consider that they could be in a situation someday when they need blood in an emergency.
"When it comes to blood, we're all in this together," Dorsey said.
At the blood drives, the DOW will also provide some entertainment and shooting practice with its DART trailer. The trailer uses computer simulation to present various shooting scenarios in hunting situations. The trailer offers great fun and a test of skill. Children and adults can participate.
At the drives people can also make donations that will go to the families of the injured boys. Businesses or individuals also are invited to contribute items for a silent auction.
Donors can go directly to the blood drive sites or make an appointment by calling the United Blood Center office at 385-4601. Donors can also go on-line at www.bloodhero.com; use the code TCNL for the March 5 blood drive in Bayfield or tylernikko for the March 6 blood drive in Durango.
Anyone who would like to contribute silent auction items should call Dorsey at the DOW's Durango office: 274-0855.
For those who can't attend either of these days, a city-sponsored drive is scheduled for 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. March 7 at the Durango Recreation Center.
For more information about Division of Wildlife go to: http://wildlife.state.co.us.