FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Puget Sound Blood Center Asks for Help in Keeping Labor Day Safe

AUGUST 29, 2006, SEATTLE WA — Labor Day marks the end of the summer for many of us.  A chance to get away for one last camping trip or mini-vacation.  The last three-day weekend before the kids are back in school for the year.  The interstates and highways will be jammed with traffic and the ferry lines will be likely be longer than normal.

As you plan your holiday weekend activities, please keep in mind the need for donated blood.   No matter the time of year, the need for blood remains constant.  Often the need increases as we head outdoors to enjoy the weather and the holidays.  Donating helps maintain safe levels of life-giving blood are available for members of our community in their time of need.  If you are planning on staying near home this holiday weekend, donating the gift of life is a great way to celebrate the last days of summer.  
It takes 900 people, registering every weekday, to keep our community’s blood supply at stable levels.  Donating blood takes about an hour out of your busy summer schedule, but it is an hour well spent.  Each blood donation is a gift of life, potentially saving three lives.  Those wishing to donate can bring a friend along, doubling the number of lives potentially saved.  Blood donations not only help those who have suffered trauma, they also help those with cancer, surgery patients, premature babies and others who cannot live without the support of volunteer blood donors.
To help those who can donate through Labor Day, all of Puget Sound Blood Center’s Donor Centers will maintain the normal hours throughout the weekend and Monday.  That means several of the Blood Center’s Donor Centers will be open Labor Day, Monday, September 4, 2006. 

Regular Hours over Holiday Weekend and Monday

• Saturday and Sunday - All Donor Centers normally open on Saturday and Sunday will be open during their regular hours Labor Day weekend. 
• On Labor Day - The five Blood Center Donor Centers normally open on Monday will be open on Labor Day.  The five Donor Centers normally open on Mondays are Bellevue, Central Seattle, Tukwila, North Seattle and Lynnwood.  These five Donor Centers will be open for whole blood and apheresis collections from 8:00a.m. until 4:00p.m.

Those interested in donating can schedule a time by calling 800-398-7888.  To find a blood drive near you, or for more information on the Blood Center, please visit our Web site at www.psbc.org.  Donor Center locations are listed below:

Puget Sound Blood Center is an independent, community based blood center internationally recognized for its research, medical and blood and tissue services.   For more than sixty years, the Blood Center has been conducting research to improve the quality of life for all those it touches.  The Blood Center currently provides blood to 70 hospitals and clinics throughout Western Washington. 

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