Region's blood supply reaches emergency level

The region's blood supply - in particular type O and platelets - has reached an emergency "Code Red" level.

Bloodworks Northwest said there is less than one- and two-day supplies of critical blood types and platelets.

A seasonal decline in donations, high blood usage in local hospitals and a need to bolster the supply during the influx of summer events has created what Bloodworks is calling a "perfect storm."

Bloodworks is warning supplies are dangerously low, threatening its ability to meet daily patient needs and maintain emergency reserves required to respond to large-scale incidents.

For more information on donating, go to BloodworksNW.org or RedCrossBlood.org

"This is a Code Red situation," Bloodworks Northwest President and CEO Curt Bailey said in a news release. "We're doing everything we can to keep up the supply, but without immediate donor support, hospitals may have to face making difficult decisions about how to manage limited blood supplies."

Bloodworks Northwest will host several mobile drives:

• 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Friday at Edison Lutheran Church, 14201 Church Road, Bow.

• 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday at Burlington Lutheran Church, 134 E. Victoria Ave.

• 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. June 30 at Island Hospital, 1211 24th St., Anacortes.

• 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. July 1 at Skagit Valley Hospital, 300 Hospital Parkway, Mount Vernon.

• 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. July 14 at Northwest Veterinary Clinic of Mount Vernon, 14110 Bradshaw Road.

• 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. July 14 at Sedro-Woolley's Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church, 719 Ferry St.

• 9 a.m to 4 p.m. July 17 at Anacortes' Westminster Presbyterian Church, 1300 9th St.

• 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. July 21 at Salem Lutheran Church, 2529 North LaVenture Road, Mount Vernon.

According to Bloodworks, hospitals rely on a steady blood supply to treat trauma patients, perform surgeries, support cancer care, and respond to emergencies.

Currently, donations are down due to summer travel and disrupted routines, and appointments are often canceled when temperatures rise.

To meet hospital demand, Bloodworks has been forced to bring in blood from other parts of the country. It said this is an unsustainable solution, especially as shortages are being felt nationwide.

Over 48,000 appointment slots remain open through July. It takes 1,000 donors a day to maintain the blood supply to 95% of the hospitals in Western Washington and Oregon.

According to Bloodworks Northwest, only about 3% of people donate blood and if just 1% more stepped up, shortages would ease and the supply would stabilize.

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