Oregon & Southwest Washington Blood Program (OSWBP) issued an appeal for donors after collections began to dip sharply as a result of the ongoing heat wave. During the past week, over a half dozen blood drives were suspended or cancelled as temperatures soared.
“During mobile drives at locations that don’t have climate-control, we suspend collections when ambient temperatures go above 80 degrees Fahrenheit to ensure the comfort and well-being of our donors,” said Dr. James P. AuBuchon, president and CEO of Puget Sound Blood Center/Oregon & Southwest Washington Blood Program. ”Over the past week we lost an estimated 200 collections because of the heat.”
Drives disrupted by the heat wave typically take place in community centers or places of worship not equipped with air conditioning.
“We are already at the point where inventories of the most-needed blood types are falling below critical levels,” AuBuchon said. “With more hot days in the forecast we will face an emergency if donors do not come in and donate.”
It takes about 100 donors per day to maintain a sufficient blood supply for local hospitals, treatment centers and clinics. OSWBP is the supplier of lifesaving blood components for every hospital in Clark and Cowlitz counties.
To avoid a crisis, OSWBP is asking eligible donors to schedule an appointment at its Vancouver Donor Center, or to find a drive in their community close to where they live or work.
“Stay cool, support the community blood supply and enjoy a cookie and cold juice afterwards,” AuBuchon said. “That will get us through this supply shortage caused by the heat wave.”
AuBuchon noted a special need for O-negative type blood – the universal type that can be transfused to any patient -- and for platelet donations.
OSWBP joins other healthcare organizations in the region in urging everyone to keep well hydrated, use sunscreen and avoid strenuous activities during the heat of the day.
The OSWBP donor center is located just east of Westfield Vancouver mall with ample parking, easily accessed by transit and just off I-205 and Hwy 500, at 9320 NE Vancouver Mall Drive, Suite 100. Appointments can be scheduled by calling 1-800-398-7888. Find more information about community blood drive locations and donation hours at www.oswblood.org.
The Oregon & Southwest Washington Blood Program recruits donors, collects, tests, processes and delivers blood components to all hospitals in Clark and Cowlitz counties, and to Legacy Health and Providence Health & Services in Oregon. It is part of Puget Sound Blood Center (PSBC): an organization that currently serves more than 80 hospitals and clinics throughout the Pacific Northwest. It includes 250,000 donors registered annually, state-of-the-art testing and processing labs, recognized experts in transfusion medicine and a multidisciplinary blood research institute. An independent, nonprofit community resource, PSBC is celebrating its 70th anniversary in 2014.
