The Pacific Northwest is facing a critical blood shortage due to a decline in donations during Spring Break and the upcoming Easter holiday.
“It takes a thousand donors a day to keep up with the demand for blood, but less than half of those needed in April or May have booked appointments,” Bloodworks Northwest said in a statement.
A dip in donations is normal during Spring Break and other scheduled school vacations. However, this year the situation is critical and leading to serious issues in blood supply to local hospitals. This sharp downturn has led to an emergency blood shortage, especially for Type O and platelet transfusions, which are in high demand by hospitals.
All blood types are welcome, but there is a special need for Type O, A negative, B negative, and platelets. Type O is the most common in the Pacific Northwest, found in 48% of the population. Type O negative is the universal blood type, which can be transfused to any patient suffering from trauma when they are rushed to a hospital and there is no time to type their blood. You do not need to know your blood type in advance to book an appointment. Donors can request a platelet count to learn if they’re eligible to donate platelets.
Donating blood is quick and easy. It takes less than an hour from check-in to enjoying a post-donation cookie. Actual donation time is only about 10 minutes. Bloodworks is urging previous and first-time donors to book appointments at local centers and drives. Same-day appointments are available at most locations and can be made at www.bloodworksnw.org, by calling 800-398-7888, or by texting BWAPP to 999-777 to download the Bloodworks App.
Anyone who donates blood in April can enter to win a once-in-a-lifetime vacation for two to Maui, with double entries for donating April 13–19 during this critical time. All May donors can enter to win a $3,000 digital gift card. Details and entry forms are available at www.bloodworksnw.org/win.
About Donating Blood
Most people in good health, at least 18 years old, and who weigh at least 110 pounds can donate whole blood every 56 days. In Washington, 16- or 17-year-olds must have a signed Bloodworks Northwest permission form, available at bloodworksnw.org. A permission form is not required in Oregon for 16- or 17-year-olds.
The FDA’s previous donor eligibility guidelines regarding sexual orientation, which made it challenging for gay and bisexual men to donate, have been eliminated. See the update online. A detailed eligibility Q&A is available, or call 800-398-7888.
About Bloodworks Northwest
Donations to Bloodworks Northwest provide lifesaving blood supply to 95% of hospitals in Western Washington and Oregon. Since 1944, Bloodworks has served the Pacific Northwest as a 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. Its 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. Patients with traumatic injuries, undergoing surgeries or organ transplantation, or receiving treatment for cancer and blood disorders all depend on its services, expertise, laboratories, and research.
Hear lifesaving stories by subscribing to the award-winning Bloodworks 101 podcast. Blood donation appointments can be scheduled at BloodworksNW.org.
