Mohave Daily News: Local

News West

LAUGHLIN - The Laughlin Tourism Commission will ask residents and visitors to help set a national record for blood donations during a Casino Drive united front campaign on Valentine's Day - Saturday, Feb. 14, 2009.

The effort will be known as “The River of Life.”

Ann Trilby, the United Blood Services regional representative for the river cities Tri-state Area, plus the rest of Mohave County south of the Colorado River and La Paz County, made the announcement to the Laughlin Rotary Club at its Wednesday breakfast meeting at Harrah's Laughlin.

“It seems Laughlin is on a roll, helping people with positive energy,” said LTC manager Jena Morga. The one-day effort during what will be a four-day holiday in Arizona will follow the Colorado River Food Bank drive which will conclude in October.

That drive involved employee talent shows at many of the Laughlin hotel-casinos, plus collection drives of canned and boxed non-perishable foods for the most active food bank in Laughlin and Bullhead City.

“It will be a great opportunity to give Laughlin some more fame, the right way, from the heart,” Morga said.

Trilby told the service club, “This would put Laughlin on the map in another good way.” She said about 500 people would be needed to break the record since some can give two units of about a pint each.

Trilby said LTC President Sean Hammond of the Aquarius Casino Resort wants to break the record in one day of 597 units collected at the Sun Coast Casino in Henderson as well as the regional record of 370 set during an annual three-day drive in Lake Havasu City.

She said the hotels are expected to mount campaigns to bring visitors in from such places as Phoenix and Las Vegas “to donate blood and have a great weekend, too,” similar to their recent Bullhead City River Regatta campaign.

Laughlin's effort will take place during the Presidents Day (Feb. 16) holiday which also will be Arizona Statehood Day (Feb. 13 because Arizona was admitted to the Union on Feb.14, 1912).

Trilby said to be eligible to donate a single unit a man or woman has to be age 17 or older, weigh at least 110 pounds, with any tattoos being at least a year old, and undergo a screening interview.

Single-unit donations can be made every 56 days, double-unit donations every 112 days. To donate the two units a man must be at least 5 feet, 2 inches tall and weigh 110 pounds; a woman must be at least 5-5 and weigh at least 155 pounds.

She also urged everyone to drink up to eight cups of water the night before donating to help the blood flow and prevent dehydration and to bulk up their blood by eating an iron-rich meal just before donating.

Iron-rich foods include fish, liver, poultry, egg yokes, raisins, whole wheat bread and peanut butter, she said.

Trilby also noted that women's iron counts normally are lower in the morning; men's later in the day.

To sponsor a blood drive

TRI-STATE - Anyone wanting to sponsor a blood donation drive should contact Ann Tribly, the United Blood Services of Las Vegas regional representative, at 702-808-1629.

Requirements include a minimum of 800 sq.-ft. of space and air conditioning capable of maintaining 68 degrees Fahrenheit. Also recommended is a contact person to schedule appointments, although walk-ins are welcome.