Bloodworks Northwest is setting up a Pop-Up Donor Center at the former Coldwater Creek Store at the Kent Station shopping center in an effort to increase donations.
The Kent site, 417 Ramsay Way, Suite 110, will be open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. July 1-31. Appointments are required. Go to schedule.bloodworksnw.org.
“Summer is always a challenging time for blood collection and now with the pandemic reducing donations, the supply is already at the point where inventories of the most-needed blood types are fast approaching critical and emergency levels – meaning a severe blood shortage is ahead of us without community action,” said Curt Bailey, Bloodworks Northwest president and CEO, in a news release. “The availability of an adequate blood supply is crucial for the care and safety of patients at our hospitals and trauma centers and must be replenished. The community must not wait to make appointments to donate in the days and weeks ahead.”
Blood centers throughout the country are reporting inventories falling to their lowest levels since the early stages of the pandemic as the nation’s hospitals resume elective surgeries, according to Bloodworks Northwest. Locally, Bloodworks is bracing for a severe summer blood shortage anticipating a shortfall of 6,000 donations through the July Fourth holiday due to low donor turnout. A shortage this large could impact the availability of blood to the hospitals and trauma centers.
“During the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, many surgeries were cancelled or postponed and the healthcare system is now working hard to catch up,” said Dr. Eileen Bulger, Harborview trauma surgeon. “In addition, emergency surgery for serious injuries can’t be postponed and the summer season is the busiest time for our Level 1 Trauma center at Harborview Medical Center. We rely on blood donors and Bloodworks Northwest to ensure that we have the life-saving blood products needed at this critical time.”
First-time and repeat donors are urged to make their one-hour donation appointment today as a safe and essential action to support local patients. There is no inherent risk of getting coronavirus from the donation procedure itself, but Bloodworks follows all CDC and local health guidelines and is taking extra precautions to protect staff and donors, including requiring donation appointments, continuous sanitation, prohibiting guests and asking donors to bring a mask/face covering to their donation. Bloodworks has posted information addressing questions and concerns for blood donors at bloodworksnw.org/coronavirus.
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