FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Our Community Still Needs Blood Donors

Blood Center collections down 50% since Monday due to the cold weather

NOVEMBER 30, 2006, SEATTLE WA — Puget Sound Blood Center encourages anyone able to take the time to donate blood to make their way to one of the Blood Center’s donor centers or blood drives over the next couple days.  Although the community blood supply is still at safe and stable levels, it is important that the supply is able to handle any sudden emergency or crisis.   We hope donors will give blood over the next week to help the community supply.

Any Coverage is Greatly Appreciated
The adverse weather has left an impact on the Blood Center’s blood inventory.  Since Monday, the Blood Center has collected about half the number of donations that typically occur in that time.  That equates to 1500 fewer donations.  Although all nine of our donor centers were open during normal operating hours, snow and ice made it difficult for many donors to keep their appointments.  Also, over 20 blood drives were cancelled in Western Washington. 

The need for blood has remained constant since Monday.  Donors able to come in over the next week will help with an anticipated increase in need we may experience as surgeries, possibly cancelled because of the weather, are rescheduled.   With busy holiday plans that include visitors and travel, we also anticipate that many regular donors may not have the opportunity to donate over the coming weeks.

The Good News
The Blood Center has the good fortune of dedicated donors, volunteers and supporters.   Since Monday, over 1000 donors braved the snow and ice to donate blood.  Hundreds of Blood Center volunteers made their way to the donor centers and blood mobiles to support blood collections.  As blood drives were cancelled, including many scheduled at high schools, many organizations, businesses and other groups stepped in at the last minute to host blood drives of their own.  It is through the efforts of these people that the community blood supply remained stable.

How to Donate
Puget Sound Blood Center donor centers normally open today, Thursday, November 30, 2006, are open and operating as regularly scheduled.  All donor centers will be open their regular hours for the remainder of the week, including Saturday.

Anyone interested in donating at a donor center can drop by or schedule an appointment by calling 1-800-398-7888 or visiting www.psbc.org.   The Blood Center’s Web site also includes information on blood drive locations and donor center hours, and appointment scheduling.  Donor center hours can also be found on our Web site.

Puget Sound Blood Center operates nine donor centers located in Western Washington:

Celebrating over 60 years of innovation, the Blood Center has a long and unique tradition of blending community volunteerism, medical science and research to improve patients’ lives. The Blood Center serves patients in more than 70 hospitals and clinics in 14 counties with blood services, provides tissue and transplantation support to 185 hospitals across the Northwest.  For more information on Puget Sound Blood Center please see our Web site at www.psbc.org.

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