Blood bank issues call to pump up its supplies
Nick Nardine of Peters Township, left, donates plasma while Donald MacDougal Jr. of Washington, right, donates blood Monday at Central Blood Bank on West Beau Street in Washington.
Donald MacDougal Jr. of Washington donates blood Monday at Central Blood Bank on West Beau Street in Washington.
Donald MacDougal Jr. of Washington donates blood as donor service specialist Danni Taddeo monitors the donation process Monday at Central Blood Bank on West Beau Street in Washington.
Robert Ruffolo of Prosperity donates blood Monday at Central Blood Bank on West Beau Street in Washington.
Central Blood Bank has issued a red alert.
Blood supplies locally and nationally are “at dangerously low levels,” the Green Tree-based bank said in a news release. Donations typically decline during warm-weather vacation months, but the dropoff this year has been acute.
“Every summer, Central Blood Bank and most blood banks experience a drop in donations,” said Kristen Lane, marketing lead for the blood bank. “This year it is especially significant.”
As a result, the bank is seeking 800 donations this week at its 22 community donor centers and fixed mobile sites throughout Western Pennsylvania and northern West Virginia.
Two are in Washington County: a community donor center in Washington (Crossroads Center, 95 W. Beau St., Suite 110, 724-228-8500), and a fixed mobile site in Peters Township (Center Presbyterian Church, 255 Center Church Road, 724-941-9050).
The Washington center is open for whole blood donations Tuesdays and Thursdays from noon to 7 p.m.; Wednesdays from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.; and Saturdays from 7:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Apheresis withdrawals, by appointment only, are on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays.
Donations at Center Presbyterian can be made Thursdays from 1 to 7 p.m. and Saturdays from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Anyone 18 or older, weighing at least 110 pounds and in generally good health may be eligible to donate. Candidates who are 16 or 17 need parental consent.
Walk-ins are accepted, but appointments are recommended by calling 1-866-366-6771 or visiting http://www.donateblood.centralbloodbank.org.
Blood drives also have been organized at three Washington County locations over the next two weeks: Sunday at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church, Burgettstown; July 20 at Cal-Ed Federal Credit Union in Coal Center; and July 22 at Steel City Harley-Davidson, South Strabane Township.
Central Blood Bank, which also serves about 50 hospitals, collects whole blood, double red blood cells, plasma and platelets. It seeks every blood type, especially O-negative, a universal type that is more in demand this time of year because of an increase in auto accidents and trauma cases.
The need for blood never really takes a vacation, making this a tough time for banks. Supplies diminish as donors of all ages go away during the summer. The group of vacationers a blood bank may miss most, however, may be a surprise – those of high school and college age.
“They represent a significant portion of our donor population,” Lane said. “We try to stress to a high school person to donate. Most agree because that gets them out of class. But once they donate and talk to a donation specialist, they realize this is much more, and they become regular donors.”
Regular or not, there is a call for donors right now.