University Daily Dally Kansan, July 29, 1983 Page 3 Blood bank safe, official says By DAVID E. SHAY Staff Reporter Staff Reporter The blood banking technique used in Douglas County and at Lawrence Memorial Hospital is as safe a system as it can possibly be, according to the Douglas County Chapter of the American Red Cross. JoAnna Byers, executive director of the chapter, said "My feeling is that I believe in the power of the human spirit." BYERS SAID THAT when a potential donor first registered, he had to fill out a questionnaire that covered his medical background. The donor's vital signs also are checked to make sure his system can handle the blood loss. With the recent AIDS scare, the Red Cross now has incorporated a special set of questions to screen people that may have AIDS, she said. Byers said that because the system was strictly voluntary, the donor would have nothing to gain by not filling out the questionnaire truthfully. "We rarely come across anything where people aren't telling the truth," she said. "We have to rely on people's honesty." The local Red Cross, which collects blood twice a year on campus, sends the blood on the day it is collected to hospitals and to determine whether it can be used. THE LAB THEN TYPES the blood and runs tests to determine if the blood contains clotting factors. venereal disease. Byers said that the test for hepatitis was 80 percent accurate. According to a lab technician at LMH, the hospital rechecks the 125 pints it receives every month from the blood banks for the type and RHI factor in the blood. Byers said that there were several ways blood could be contaminated and cause the recipient damage. The conditions of the transfusion and the way the blood is handled can lead to a problem for the patient. The local Red Cross, which collects 1600 pints of blood each year, works with major employers in the area to find donors. Byers said. SHE SAID THAT this encouraged people to give blood regularly. Although blood donations are down 17 percent, the number of chapters has not felt much of the effect. "We have a very stable donor population," she said. On campus, Byers said that a vast number of the donors had never given blood before. Probably 75 percent of all the donors at a university will be new donors. Byers said that the regulation of the bank banking system made it a very difficult task. "I think it is a very well regulated system," she said. "I think it is as safe Energy issues to be explored Two meetings concerning energy will be held in Topeka in August; one dealing with low income energy assist with the other with natural gas legislation. On Aug. 2, the Department of Social and Rehabilitation Services will give Lawrence residents a chance to offer their opinions and ideas on the federally funded Low Income Energy Assistance Program. The program is designed to help people, including the elderly, disabled or in special circumstances. guidelines, who are not able to meet utility costs. A telephone conference hook-up in Lawrence will be available to the public at 9 a.m. at the SRS office at 619 E. 9th Street. U. S. Rep. Jim Slattery, R-Kan., a congressman from the 2nd District, will conduct congressional hearings on natural gas legislation beginning at 9 a.m. on Aug. 9th in the old Supreme Court Building. It will be the first hearing held this year in Topeka by the Fossil Fuels Subcommittee. By ED GROM Staff Reporter KU orienteering moves to the city Orientering — the sport that combines cross country running and the ability to read a map — has gone urban in Lawrence for the summer. Student Union Activities has taken a sport that normally uses a wilderness setting as its playing field and moved it into the streets of Lawrence and the KU campus for two events earlier this month and another at the end of August. INSTEAD of SCHEDULING orienteering events in the wooded areas of Clinton Lake, SUA sponsored events on West Campus June 12 and at Haskell Junior College July 17. The campus KuU campus is scheduled for Aug. 28. "We usually hold events in wooded areas around Clinton Lake or other park sites, but we decided to try the summer in Lawrence." We said this summer in Lawrence. "We saw him." Gene Wee, SUA orientering director, said that the change to the urban area was due to the surroundings of Lawrence. "We used areas like West Campus and Haskell because the surroundings are more pleasant during the summer. "The wooded areas would make for a lot of bites and poison ivy and we don't want that. Orienteering is a growing sport and we would like for people to enjoy it and want to try it again." MORE THAN 15 PEOPLE participated in the event on West Campus and another 25 competed at Haskell, Wee said. "Summer is not a good time of the year to run orienting events," Wee said. "There aren't many students in town and interest is down. But for the people who still like it, we have these events to keep them enforced." In orientering, the person who follows a given course correctly in the least amount of time is the winner, he said. Control markers are placed at spots along the trail and marked on a man. "In the fall we use dead trees, stumps, rocks and other things for our control markers." Wee said. "In the fall we can keep grass areas and that as markers. "It IS DIFFERENT, but it is still challenging. We have a beginners course and a harder course for the more experienced people." "True, cross country running is a big part of the events, but the catch is that the fastest runner doesn't always win the race." We said. "You have to Orienteering is more than just running. Wee said. read the map correctly and follow your compass. The sharp runner will beat the fast one." Orientediee came to KU in 1976 when several students from the eastern United States promoted the sport at KU. Wee said. Orientete became an organized club at KU in 1977 when it became affiliated with the U.S. Orientete Association. Since then KU students have competed in state and national events. KU EARNED DISTINCTION in the U.S. Orienteering Association this year when the team won the College Orienteering Championships in upstate New York. KU defeated the defending champion, U.S. Military Academy of West Point, N.Y., in the finals. "It was quite a thrill because we beat them in their own back yard," Wee said. "I hope winning a big event can draw more interest in the area." "We are fortunate to have a very dedicated and competitive chapter of the USOA here at KU." Wee said. "Not only do the KU club members compete in national events, they help out around the community with events such as the ones we run in the summer." 1337 Massachusetts - 749:0636 (next to Mick's) Place a want ad Call 864-4358. THE CASTLE TEA ROOM YELLO SUB DELIVERS 841-3268 BEAT THE HEAT With Our End-of-School Special FRESH-BREWED ICED TEA 40¢ Buy One Size & Get Another of the Same Size FREE! Wed. thru Fri. Ask about Daily Specials The Only On-Campus Apartments. Offering all utilities paid, 10 month leases, free Cable TV, Swimming pool and covered parking Two-bedroom units... Only for the KU student. JAYHAWKER TOWERS 1603 W. 15th 843-4993 CEDARWOOD Apartments Heritage Management Corp. Studio, One, Two, Three, & Four Bedroom Apartments starting at $17500 month PHONE 2414 Ousdahl 843-1116 Heritage Management Corp. Mon. 'Watermelons' $1.00 all night Tues. 'Survival of the Fittest' (8:00-11:00) All the beer and bar drinks you can drink $3.00 cover 11:00 to close- 75* draws and $1.50 bar drinks Wed. 25c draws and $1.00 bar drinks (8:00-10:30) 50c draws and $1.25 bar drinks (10:30-close) Thurs. 25* draws and $1.00 bar drinks (8:00-10:30) 50* draws and $1.25 bar drinks (10:30-close) Fri. afternoon 5:00-8:00 two for ones on all drinks and half price food Fri. & Sat. night Late Night Happy Hour 11-midnight $1.25 bar drinks and 75th draws