Puget Sound Blood Center (PSBC) has issued an emergency appeal to blood donors. Due to a multi-state network outage on Friday, January 24th, supplies are dangerously low and any serious tragedy or illness outbreak could deplete the supply completely – and lead to entirely avoidable deaths.
“The network outage caused the loss of both telephone and computer connectivity for most PSBC locations, resulting in cancellation of scheduled blood drives and suspension of collections at all donor centers,” said Dr. James AuBuchon, president and CEO of PSBC. “This triggered an emergency shortage of blood locally.” PSBC needs to collect about 900 units each day to maintain essential inventories of blood components.
PSBC has requested all western Washington hospitals to minimize usage of blood components, although they believe they can meet all critical needs. About 40 states were impacted by the widespread outage, although the greatest impact will be in Washington. “PSBC has contacted other U.S. blood centers, but with such a widespread outage and severe winter storms in the eastern U.S., the ability of other blood centers to respond is limited or uncertain,” AuBuchon said.
“We’re urgently asking people to schedule time this week to donate blood,” AuBuchon said. “That will help get us through this unforeseeable shortage.”
Please, consider donating! Appointments can be made on-line, or by calling 1-800-398-7888. Or stop by a Puget Sound Blood Center and offer to donate. A donation of whole blood can take less than one hour…