County, city face off in good-natured blood feud

Flathead County and Kalispell have had a few spats over the years, but this time they're both out for blood.

No, really. They're out for blood.

Commissioner Joe Brenneman threw down the gauntlet last week, challenging Kalispell Mayor Pam Kennedy to a friendly competition to see who could give more blood - county or city employees.

After the county agreed to sponsor an American Red Cross blood drive, Brenneman bet Kennedy that a higher percentage of county employees would contribute than city employees.

Kennedy immediately accepted the challenge, saying Kalispell would surely prevail.

The stakes haven't been set yet, but the real winners will be the blood recipients.

"Every unit of blood gets divided into three components - red blood cells, plasma and platelets - and they all save lives. If we collect a hundred units, that's 300 lives," said Sandy Mundahl, blood drive coordinator for the American Red Cross in Kalispell.

The Kalispell office collected 5,423 pints of blood from all sources during the 12-month period that ended Feb. 28, Mundahl said. Of that, almost a third came from blood drives sponsored by businesses or organizations (not including churches or schools).

"It's a huge amount," she said. "We try to generate at least two new blood drives every month - and I'm always looking for new businesses."

During a meeting with the Flathead County commissioners, Mundahl said the sponsor's primary responsibility is to recruit donors.

"That's their main job," she said. "It's also very helpful if they give employees time on the clock to donate, rather than make them take time off. We get three times as many people that way.

"It may seem like a lot of work, but it's pretty simple. If they don't have room for the blood draw, we'll offer the use of our office. All I need is one main contact person to work with."

Several local businesses sponsor regular blood drives for their employees, friends and family members.

"Flathead Electric Cooperative has one every quarter," Mundahl said. "D. A. Davidson usually holds three a year. Home Depot has three. Most of our regular businesses give two to four times per year. The hospital [Kalispell Regional Medical Center] holds a drive every 56 days."

People can give blood every 56 days, or about six times per year. The average donor, however, gives less than twice a year - and less than 5 percent of eligible donors give any blood at all.

Flathead County's blood draw has been scheduled May 3.

A date for Kalispell's draw hasn't been set yet.

The Red Cross also holds regular blood draws at its office for individual donors, as well as blood drives at area schools and churches.

"We're really trying to recruit high school kids," Mundahl said. "If they have a good experience and know how important it is, that's how people become lifetime donors."

Any businesses interested in sponsoring a blood drive can contact Mundahl at 755-7237.

Reporter Bill Spence may be reached at 758-4459 or by e-mail at bspence@dailyinterlake.com.