Bloodworks Northwest has declared a “code red” emergency blood shortage in the Pacific Northwest, as less than half of the donors needed to maintain a safe and reliable blood supply have booked appointments.
Declines in blood inventory to emergency levels in certain blood types, especially type O, combined with high patient need and a low number of people booking appointments to donate, have left a gap of 27,000 donation appointments to be filled through February, according to a news release.
A “code red” is declared after four consecutive days of emergency levels. Type O positive, type O negative and platelets have been fluctuating between critical and emergency levels since early December, according to a news release. Severe winter weather across the United States has compounded the need for donors of all blood types, especially type O and platelets.
“Code red means we’re running out of blood to concerning levels,” Curt Bailey, president and CEO of Bloodworks Northwest, said in a news release. “Bloodworks is providing local hospitals with more type O than is being donated locally, which depletes the supply. Our community needs to act quickly to stabilize the blood supply and to ensure patients experiencing cancer can receive transfusions, surgeries aren’t delayed, and our trauma centers can respond to emergencies.”
People who are eligible and feeling healthy are encouraged to fill immediate appointments to give blood in support of local patients. Same-day blood donation appointments are available at most locations.
Visit bloodworksnw.org or call 800-398-7888 to find a donor location or to schedule an appointment. People can also visit the American Red Cross website in Washington, redcross.org/local/washington.html, to find out how and where to donate.
