Blood shortage prompts ‘Code Red Emergency’ alert in South Sound region
A major South Sound blood-collection agency says it has only half the donation appointments it needs to supply the region’s hospitals. Bloodworks Northwest declared a “code red emergency blood shortage” Monday.
“We feel the effects of people who haven’t donated over the holidays,” spokesperson John Yeager said. That annual phenomenon combined with severe winter storms across the country has created the dire need.
Recent storms have blanketed parts of the nation as far south as Texas and Louisiana with snow. That impacts people’s abilities to reach donation centers.
Blood banks around the nation have reciprocity agreements which allows the transfer of blood when a region is in short supply.
“Ninty-nine percent of the time, the blood donated stays here,” Yeager said.
Bloodworks Northwest is asking donors in Western Washington and Oregon to book appointments to make up for the shortage. Currently, the agency has 25,000 open appointments from now into February, Yeager said.
Type O negative, or universal donor, is especially needed.
“Code Red means we’re running out of blood to concerning levels,” said Curt Bailey, president & CEO of Bloodworks Northwest. “Bloodworks is providing local hospitals with more Type O than is being donated locally, which depletes the supply.”
A code red is declared after four consecutive days of emergency blood levels, Yeager said.
Demand for blood remains high throughout hospitals in the Pacific Northwest. A local gunshot victim needed more than 100 units alone last week, Yeager said. A unit is a pint of blood and is the typical donation amount per person.
The American Red Cross is also experiencing a shortage due to the winter storms and fires in southern California, which have impacted donations. Red Cross spokesperson Betsy Robertson said her agency has a 15,000 blood and platelet donation deficit in January.
“We are actively working everywhere conditions will allow people to get to blood-donation centers so we don’t go into a severe situation,” Roberson said.
Where to donate
▪ Bloodworks Northwest: Appointments can be made at bloodworksnw.org or 800-398-7888.
▪ American Red Cross: Blood drives can be found at redcrossblood.org/give or 800-733-2767.
