Montana celebrates 60 years of blood collection

  • Published
  • By Scott Shanahan
  • Senior Donor Recruitment Representative
GREAT FALLS, Mont. --  (Editor's note: The following information was compiled by American Red Cross Communications officials.)

In the winter of 1948, donors lined up in Great Falls to give blood to the American Red Cross for the very first time. This month marks the 60th anniversary of blood collection in the state. 

On Nov. 22, 1948, the Great Falls Blood Center was dedicated for service by the Montana Regional Blood Program Coordinating Council. It was located in the basement of the Civic Center building and was the 17th blood center in the nation and only the sixth in the Pacific Area. 

The first blood draw was held at the center Dec. 28, 1948. It was the first center in the U.S. which started as a chapter-participation program. During the first full year of operation, the regional blood center collected 4,304 units of blood. On Aug. 24, 1950, the first shipment of 24 units of blood was sent to support American troops in Korea. 

In 1951, Montana produced more blood per capita population than any other blood center in the country, in spite of the smallest population per center area and the largest geographic area. In 1954, the first test pilot for a "mini" blood mobile was completed. 

Since that time, Red Cross Blood Services has expanded and now has five fixed collection site locations in Great Falls, Helena, Bozeman, Kalispell and Missoula.
Wilbert Graf, a 35 gallon donor and volunteer at the Great Falls Donor Center, recalls the early days of giving blood. He said that back then, if someone needed blood, they would have to find a donor. When his father had a friend in the military who needed blood, Graf willingly gave blood and has been a loyal donor ever since. 

Graf first donated in 1953 and has kept his original donor card. He said that in the 1950s, blood was collected in glass bottles and there was very little in the way of a health history with extensive questions. Often people would wait hours to give blood, but most didn't mind as the era wasn't nearly as fast-paced as today. 

The Montana collections for fiscal year 2007 exceeded 37,000 units and the Red Cross currently supplies more than 30 hospitals throughout the state. The average collection needed per business day is now 148 units to assure a safe and adequate supply of blood is available at any given time. 

The next American Red Cross blood drive at Malmstrom is Dec. 23 from 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. in the lower gym of the Fitness Center. Call the ARC at 727-2212 to sign up or register to donate online at www.givelife.org (sponsor code: airforce).