FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Blood Center Announces December and January Holiday Hours

DECEMBER 8, 2003, SEATTLE — The holiday season isn’t only about enjoying Hanukkah, Christmas, Kwanzaa and other celebrations. It’s not only about festivities, presents and family get-togethers. Puget Sound Blood Center reminds the community that the holiday season is also about giving. There are people in our community who must stay in the hospital or have been involved in auto accidents. These people and many others may need blood. What better gift to give than the gift of life?

The Blood Center, a non-profit organization, is announcing its holiday hours and encourages the community to make a blood donation sometime during the upcoming short holiday weeks.

“It’s that time of year again when we typically experience a drop in donations,” said Steve McLean, Blood Center spokesman. “Though our region is well known for its spirit of giving, it’s easy to become distracted during the holidays. Though the current community blood supply is ample, we require a minimum of 750 units of blood each day to maintain it. With Christmas and New Years falling on a Thursday, we’re asking that more people in the community donate blood to help us compensate for these anticipated shortages. It only takes an hour to donate -- not much time when you consider that your donation will most likely save someone’s life.”

Because the need for blood varies, Puget Sound Blood Center asks people with all blood types to consider making a donation.

Holiday Hours and Locations
The Blood Center’s nine locations are closed for whole blood and apheresis donations on Christmas Day and New Year’s Day. However, each of the donor centers will be open on Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. The Blood Center donor centers will carry regular business hours thereafter. Those interested in making a donation can schedule an appointment by calling 1-800-398-7888. Donor centers are as follows:

Not affiliated with the American Red Cross, Puget Sound Blood Center serves patients in more than 70 hospitals and clinics in 14 counties with blood services and provides tissue and transplantation support to 185 hospitals across the Northwest. The Blood Center requires a daily minimum of 900 people to register as donors. From this number, the Blood Center needs to collect 750 units of blood per weekday to ensure that the region’s supply remains adequate.

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