Vancouver – Severe weather and the bad flu season have left the region’s blood supplies at critically low levels. Bloodworks Northwest is urging people to donate in the next week to help replenish the supply.
“A normal dip in donations during the holidays is expected, but in the first 10 days of January we’re already down 800 units below what is needed,” said Dr. James P. AuBuchon, Bloodworks Northwest president and CEO, in a news release. “Regular donors are delaying coming in because of illness, while extreme winter weather and treacherous road conditions in Southwest Washington and Oregon have hampered donors in those communities.”
A normal inventory is a four-day supply. Currently, about 20 percent of blood centers are reporting emergency blood inventories, which is a one-day or less supply. Bloodworks Northwest supplies blood for both local hospitals.
Type O blood (positive and negative) is especially needed. Appointments can be made online, schedule.bloodworksnw.org, or by calling 800-398-7888.
The Vancouver Donor Center, 9320 N.E. Vancouver Mall Drive, Suite 100, is open 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Fridays, Saturdays and Tuesdays; 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Wednesdays; and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Thursdays.
