Blood Supply to Local Hospitals Running on Fumes

There is an urgent need for blood donations heading into Labor Day  weekend. Bloodworks Northwest reports the local blood supply is running on fumes, as donations are  down and patient needs for Type O blood and platelets are at their highest. All eligible donors are urged  to make an appointment to donate in the days and weeks ahead. 

“We’re operating on less than a single day supply of O Positive and O Negative blood – the types most  needed in trauma situations,” said Dr. Kirsten Alcorn, Co-Chief Medical Officer of Bloodworks  Northwest. “Hospitals are already having to conserve onsite supplies and we’re concerned the upcoming  Labor Day weekend will further impact our ability to provide urgently-needed blood for emergencies at a time when trauma units around our region typically experience high patient usage. It’s vital the public  prioritize donating blood to keep our community safe.”  

It takes 1,000 donors a day of all blood types to maintain a safe and reliable blood supply for unexpected  emergencies and continued medical care in our region. Only 40% of the donors needed have booked  appointments, leaving a gap of 3,600 open appointments between now and Labor Day. Donating blood  takes about an hour from check-in to post-donation cookie, and it is an hour well spent. Each donation is 

roughly one pint of blood and people needing transfusions often need multiple pints of blood. Those  wishing to donate can encourage a friend to book an appointment with them, doubling the number of  lives potentially saved.  

Bloodworks has perks for people who donate this summer to help end the shortage. Donors can enter to  win monthly music giveaways like a karaoke machine and Apple iPad mini or Airpods Max over-ear headphones as part of Bloodworks Music’s In Our Blood Campaign. Donors who sign up to receive  emails can receive gift card promotions. 

About Donating Blood: 

• Donating blood is a safe and essential action. Appointments, masks, and photo ID required. Information about who can donate and where, is available at www.bloodworksnw.org.
• Most people in good health, at least 18 years old, and who weigh at least 110lbs can donate whole blood. Ages 16 & 17 may donate in WA with signed Bloodworks permission form. In OR, anyone over 16 can donate. Read detailed eligibility Q&A or call 800-398-7888.  
• Approximately 39% of the population has Type O+ blood and 9% has Type O- universal blood type. This is known as the universal blood type. You do not need to know your blood type to donate blood. First time donors who sign up for email will learn their unique blood type following donation.  

Additional Resources: 

For the latest information on COVID-19 please visit the CDC website, Washington State Department of  Health COVID-19 main page, and Oregon Health Authority. 

Bloodworks Donor Centers and Pop-Up Centers: 

Appointments and information at BloodworksNW.org or 800-398-7888. See our list of Donor  Centers and Pop-Up blood drive locations, including our new Donor Center in Renton. 

About Bloodworks Northwest – Donations with Bloodworks Northwest provide 95% of the lifesaving  blood supply to hospitals in Western Washington and Oregon. Since 1944, Bloodworks has served the  Pacific Northwest as the local, nonprofit, independent, volunteer-supported, and community based  blood center and research institute. Bloodworks partners closely with local hospitals to deliver the  highest level of patient care. Comprehensive services include blood components, complex cross matching, specialized lab services for organ transplants, care for patients with blood disorders, and  collection of cord blood stem cells for cancer treatment. Bloodworks Research Institute performs  leading-edge research in blood biology, transfusion medicine, blood storage and treatment of blood  disorders. Patients with traumatic injuries, undergoing surgeries or organ transplantation, or receiving  treatment for cancer and blood disorders all depend on our services, expertise, laboratories and  research. Blood donation appointments can be scheduled at bloodworksnw.org.