FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Blood Donations Needed in Quake Aftermath

Puget Sound Blood Center urges people to give blood

MARCH 1, 2001, SEATTLE — Puget Sound Blood Center officials report that the cancellation of blood drives due to yesterday's earthquake has depleted area blood supplies.

The three-day supply of blood normally maintained by the Blood Center has been cut nearly in half due to the drastic decrease in donations on February 28, the day of the earthquake. The 6.8 temblor prompted the cancellation of numerous mobile blood drives in the region and many people who had been scheduled to donate at the Blood Center's permanent donation sites could not get to them.

"We need an above-average number of donations in the next few days to rebuild our reserve in order to fill the needs of local hospitals and to provide for possible emergencies," said A.J. Pasquarelli, Blood Center spokesman.

The Blood Center urges healthy adults to give blood Friday or Saturday at one of its donation centers: Bellevue (1021 112th Ave. NE), Bellingham (Sunset Square shopping Center), Everett (2703 Oakes Ave.), First Hill in Seattle (921 Terry Ave., North Seattle (10357 Stone Ave. N.), Olympia (1220 Eastside St. SE), Silverdale (3230 NW Randall Way), Tukwila (130 Andover Park E) and Lynnwood (19723 Highway Rd. Suite F).

Make an appointment to donate by calling 1-800-398-7888. For more information, call 1-800 DONATE-1, or make an appointment online to donate blood at one of our centers.

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