News | People and Pets Blood Drive

PSBC Contact: David Larsen — 206-233-3358
ACCES Contact: Virginia Piper — 206-364-1660

July 10, 2012, SEATTLE, WA — ACCES (Animal Critical Care and Emergency Services) Blood Bank is joining forces with the Puget Sound Blood Center (PSBC) to host the People and Pets Blood Drive for cats, dogs and their owners. This one-day effort will help secure much needed blood for humans and pets alike while shining a light on the importance of these life-saving programs.

"We're pleased to partner with the ACCES Blood Bank for the People and Pets Blood Drive," said David Leitch, director of donor and volunteer resources for PSBC. "This unique event brings together engaged pet owners in support of an important cause, and also helps educate the community about the ongoing need for blood donations for both people and pets alike." Through community collaborations such as the People and Pets Blood Drive, PSBC is expanding its reach to a new audience of potential donors – pet owners who may not have been donors in the past.

"Pets can require a blood transfusion for many of the same reasons humans do, such as injuries, surgeries, or when diseases cause the body to destroy its own blood cells," said ACCES Blood Bank director Heather Montgomery. “The ACCES Blood Bank relies on our invaluable dog and cat donors to help provide the blood needed to save these animals lives."

"We have a special need for donations in the summer months when regular donors are away on vacation, and colleges and universities are on break," Leitch said. "But the need for blood continues every day as patients are still undergoing surgeries, ERs are treating traumatic injuries, people are receiving treatments for cancer and surgeons are still performing transplants -- there's no vacation in the need of patients and hospitals for blood." PSBC needs to collect about 900 donations each day to meet the needs of regional hospitals for blood components.

As part of the People and Pets Blood Drive on Thursday, July 26th, the ACCES Blood Bank will have its medical team on-site to screen prospective applicants and conduct donations.

The Puget Sound Blood Center team will staff the mobile donation van onsite to collect donations. For people blood donation, sign-up in advance to donate through PSBC.

ACCES Blood Bank Donor Requirements
To donate, dogs must be over 50 pounds and between one and six years of age. They must also be good-natured, healthy and current on vaccines. Cats also need to be current on vaccines, be one to six years of age, at least 10 pounds and indoors only. For information on requirements and how to donate, please call 206-364-1660 or email bloodbank@criticalcarevets.com.

Having met the above criteria, the prospective donor will be typed onsite on July 26^th and tested for infectious diseases in accordance with the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine (ACVIM) consensus statement guidelines for blood donors (at no cost to the owner). Once approved, the new ACCES Blood Bank donor will be asked to commit to donating once every two to three months for three years. Each donation appointment takes approximately 30 minutes and upon completion, the dog donor will receive a free toy, plenty of treats and much gratitude from the ACCES Blood Bank team. Active and retired donors are also eligible for one free transfusion from the ACCES Blood Bank if needed.

PSBC Blood Donors
Information about other locations and times to give blood. People can go to one of 11 donor centers in Western Washington or check online for community blood drives underway closer to where they live or work. Appointments are encouraged, but walk-ins are welcome. Appointments can also be scheduled by calling 1-800-398-7888.

About Puget Sound Blood Center
Puget Sound Blood Center is an independent, community-based nonprofit organization with a tradition blending volunteerism, medical science and research to advance transfusion medicine and improve patient care. A recognized leader in transfusion medicine, the Blood Center serves patients in more than 70 hospitals and clinics in 14 Western Washington counties. Patients with leukemia, cancer, burns, hemophilia and traumatic injuries depend on Blood Center research. For more information, visit psbc.org.

About ACCES
ACCES is a collaborative hospital, which emphasizes coordinated care and communication among referring veterinarians, pet owners and ACCES specialists. ACCES specialists are board-certified in veterinary critical care medicine, veterinary internal medicine, veterinary surgery and veterinary radiology with licensed technical specialists in internal medicine, emergency and critical care. In addition, ACCES has close working relationships with Animal Cancer Specialists, VETMED Diagnostic Imaging and Northwest Animal Eye Specialists, as well as the Animal Dermatology Clinic. For more information or a complete list of services, please visit www.criticalcarevets.com or call 206-364-1660.