Published: Monday, December 6, 2010
Blood bank supplies at critical level
The Puget Sound Blood Bank blames recent cold weather for a drop in donations and is seeking extra donors.
EVERETT — The Puget Sound Blood Center needs more donors to help make up for donations that didn’t happen because of recent snow and ice.
Inclement weather during Thanksgiving week caused the center to miss out on more than 1,200 donations, according to Michael Young, director of communications for the Puget Sound Blood Center.
Blood supply in the O-negative, A-negative and B-negative blood groups has fallen to a critical level. A blood group reaches a critical level when it is less than a two-day supply. A four-day blood supply is considered operational, Young said.
“We’re hoping this week we’ll have more donors so we can get back to an operational level,” he said.
The Puget Sound Blood Bank is the main supplier of blood products to Providence Regional Medical Center in Everett, said Jack Moschel, a technical quality specialist at the hospital’s blood bank. The hospital sometimes does not receive its full orders from Puget Sound Blood Center when their blood supplies are low, Moschel said.
The shortage has caused orders of group O-negative blood to be cut down, he added, but the hospital’s blood supply is not at a critical level.
“We have a minimum inventory we like to keep on hand and we haven’t seen ourselves go below that inventory level,” Moschel said.
To help build up their supply, Providence Regional Medical Center and the Puget Sound Blood Center are planning a blood drive from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Friday in the Monte Cristo Room at 916 Pacific Ave.
Loyal donors typically help the Puget Sound Blood Center avoid blood supply shortages, Young said.
“The only time we have a shortage is when we have a weather event like the one we had last week,” he said.
More than 900 donors are needed every day for the Puget Sound Blood Center to maintain an operational blood supply. Anyone in good health, who is at least 18 years old, and weighs at least 110 pounds can donate blood every 56 days according to the Puget Sound Blood Center website.
There are 11 Puget Sound Blood Center locations. Donation centers located in Snohomish County are in Everett at 2703 Oakes Ave. and in Lynnwood at 19723 Highway 99, Suite F.
For information on center locations or mobile blood drives call 800-398-7888 or go to the Puget Sound Blood Center website at www.psbc.org.
Amy Daybert: 425-339-3491; adaybert@heraldnet.com.
Inclement weather during Thanksgiving week caused the center to miss out on more than 1,200 donations, according to Michael Young, director of communications for the Puget Sound Blood Center.
Blood supply in the O-negative, A-negative and B-negative blood groups has fallen to a critical level. A blood group reaches a critical level when it is less than a two-day supply. A four-day blood supply is considered operational, Young said.
“We’re hoping this week we’ll have more donors so we can get back to an operational level,” he said.
The Puget Sound Blood Bank is the main supplier of blood products to Providence Regional Medical Center in Everett, said Jack Moschel, a technical quality specialist at the hospital’s blood bank. The hospital sometimes does not receive its full orders from Puget Sound Blood Center when their blood supplies are low, Moschel said.
The shortage has caused orders of group O-negative blood to be cut down, he added, but the hospital’s blood supply is not at a critical level.
“We have a minimum inventory we like to keep on hand and we haven’t seen ourselves go below that inventory level,” Moschel said.
To help build up their supply, Providence Regional Medical Center and the Puget Sound Blood Center are planning a blood drive from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Friday in the Monte Cristo Room at 916 Pacific Ave.
Loyal donors typically help the Puget Sound Blood Center avoid blood supply shortages, Young said.
“The only time we have a shortage is when we have a weather event like the one we had last week,” he said.
More than 900 donors are needed every day for the Puget Sound Blood Center to maintain an operational blood supply. Anyone in good health, who is at least 18 years old, and weighs at least 110 pounds can donate blood every 56 days according to the Puget Sound Blood Center website.
There are 11 Puget Sound Blood Center locations. Donation centers located in Snohomish County are in Everett at 2703 Oakes Ave. and in Lynnwood at 19723 Highway 99, Suite F.
For information on center locations or mobile blood drives call 800-398-7888 or go to the Puget Sound Blood Center website at www.psbc.org.
Amy Daybert: 425-339-3491; adaybert@heraldnet.com.
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