Puget Sound Blood Center’s supply becomes a casualty of the heat

Published 10:52 pm Friday, July 31, 2009

EVERETT — First-time blood donor Aisling Marshall was among those who walked into the Everett office of the Puget Sound Blood Center on Friday, responding to an urgent plea for people to help restock the region’s supplies.

The need is greatest for O blood types, and Marshall, 23, who lives in Marysville, has O-negative blood.

“I felt a little more inclined to do it,” she said. Marshall said she encouraged her brother to donate, too.

Blood supplies have dipped to critical levels because of the region’s unusually long heat wave, said Michael Young, a spokesman for the blood donation agency.

“We try to operate with a four-day supply,” he said, but stocks had dropped by half. The agency provides blood supplies for medical centers between Bellingham and Vancouver, Wash. Type O blood is especially needed because it can be given to any trauma patient.

The shortage was caused by blood drives being canceled starting last week. Some of the places that usually host blood drives, such as community centers and churches, didn’t have air conditioning. And some that had the air conditioning had it max out and shut down because of the unusually high temperatures, he said.

Volunteers responded to the need by turning out to donation centers throughout the Puget Sound region on Friday, “but we’re still low overall,” he said, particularly type O blood.

The Everett center at 2703 Oakes Ave. is open fro 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. today. The Lynnwood center, at 19723 Highway 99, Suite F, is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday.

Marshall was one of many people who came to the Everett center on Friday, keeping staff and volunteers center busier than usual.

On a typical day, about 30 people stop by to donate, said Naomi Demarest, volunteer coordinator. But about 50 people had made donations by mid-afternoon Friday to help restock blood supplies. And no one cancelled their appointment, she said.

Chris Kosies, 46, of Everett said she’s been donating blood since she was an 18-year-old high school student in Arizona.

Kosies said she has O-positive blood and knowing that it was in short supply, she wanted to respond to a call she received from the blood center for a donation.

“It’s a great thing to do,” she said. “It gives me a sense I’m helping.”

Nearby, Grant Gould was getting his arm wrapped in a blue elastic bandage at the end of his donation session.

Gould, 65, who lives in Lake Stevens, has been donating since 1967. He reached into his pocket to show off a blue-and-gold pin he received Friday, designating him as a six-gallon blood donor.

“They called and said we really need you to donate again,” he said.

With all his experience, Gould has some advice for novice, potential donors.

“It’s painless,” he said. “It takes just a little time out of your day. It’s not that bad.”

Sharon Salyer: 425-339-3486, salyer@heraldnet.com.