South Sound region’s blood supply at crisis levels. Centers plead for donation

The people who collect blood and those who use it — blood banks and hospitals — are calling the current shortage in the South Sound unprecedented, historic and a crisis.

Bloodworks Northwest declared a “Code Red” this month — the highest level of need the agency has.

Normally, blood collection establishments try to have four to five days of blood on hand. On Tuesday, Bloodworks had a one-day supply, said Vicki Finson, vice president for blood services.

Still, that’s an improvement from earlier in January when they were measuring their supplies in hours.

“We had been sitting at a one-day supply for months,” Finson said. “Then, with the holidays, the Omicron surge … the weather that hit us. We just took a tumble.”

The shortage is a nationwide problem brought on by a confluence of factors. COVID-19 is making people reluctant to donate, canceling some blood drives and sickening donors and staff. The holiday donation slow down and winter weather exacerbated the situation.

“We have moved to crisis standards,” said Dr. John Hess, medical director for Harborview Medical Center’s blood transfusion service in a statement on Tuesday. “There are places that cannot meet their normal requirements.”

While blood banks count by days, hospitals count by units, said Camie Steiner, vice president for laboratory services at MultiCare’s Tacoma General Hospital.

When blood levels get low, different protocols are enacted based on need, Steiner said.

A half unit rather than a whole unit might be given to a patient. Elective surgeries could be postponed. Emergencies could be diverted to other hospitals.

WHAT’S NEEDED NOW

Tacoma General is in need of type O negative blood and platelets, Steiner said.

Type O negative, also known as universal donor, is the most frequently given in transfusions, especially in emergency situations, she said. It’s also rare: Just 7 percent of the population is type O negative.

Platelets are used by cancer patients and others to help with blood clotting.

“Platelets help form blood clots and stop bleeding and help those with blood disorders and those who are undergoing open heart surgeries and transplants,” Steiner said.

Platelet donation differs from a regular donation because the donor’s red blood cells are returned back to them. Donors can give platelets every two weeks — more frequently than red blood cells, Steiner said.

GIVING IS GOOD

Steiner wishes the public could see how hard blood banks, hospitals and donors have been working the past two years.

“How intensely our team and probably every hospital’s team has had to advocate through this pandemic, to maintain adequate stocks of blood,” she said.

She feels that the pandemic has altered the blood collection culture. New generations of donors are needed, she said.

Steiner also wants the public to know the impact one donation can make. While individual blood needs vary, one person’s donation could potentially save three lives, she said.

While donors lining up during times of crisis make the news and are appreciated, Steiner said, it’s the day in, day out donors that make up the backbone of the system.

“Because, if you’re waiting for your weekly transfusion, and you have to wait another week, you’re probably not going to feel great.”

WHERE TO DONATE

▪ Bloodworks Northwest: bloodworksnw.org/donate / 800-398-7888 / Locations in Olympia, Federal Way and others.

▪ Cascade Regional Blood Services: crbs.net / 877-242-5663 / Locations in Tacoma, Puyallup, Federal Way, Gig Harbor.

This story was originally published by The News Tribune.

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