The Coronavirus or COVID-19 outbreak in Washington state, and specifically in the Seattle metro area, has greatly impacted the affected areas blood supply. Bloodworks Northwest reached out Friday to Blood Centers of America members for support during the localized outbreak to supplement their blood supply. The response was less than adequate.
Blood centers across the US are hesitant to release their supply not knowing if or when their community might be affected. Saturday the Western Kentucky Regional Blood Center responded with what blood center director, Janet Howard, felt comfortable sharing. Howard was contacted again, this time by the AABB Interorganizational
“As a community blood center we are tasked with ensuring our local needs are met but in a critical situation, our center must step up and help others”, said Howard, WKRBC CEO. The Oregon and Washington state medical needs continue as normal but with a great loss of much needed blood drives. WKRBC, much like many other blood centers, works diligently to ensure access to blood locally. It is often challenging enough without the call to action we have received. The leadership at WKRBC has met and developed a plan to both maintain local supplies and appeal for additional blood donations from this community.
WKRBC Director of Donor Resources Vicki Ellis explains, our regularly scheduled blood drives will continue as planned and run concurrently with this special appeal for blood donation at the blood center’s sites in Owensboro and Hopkinsville. Blood collected at the blood drives is expected to maintain our local supplies while the plea for in center donations will be prioritized to support the Seattle relief efforts. “This is a generous community; one we can count on to step up.” Ellis said.
Sunday afternoon Howard received further communication from Eduardo Nun
Healthy persons are asked to report to WKRBC beginning today.
Donor Guidelines:
Must be at least 17 years old/16 year olds may donate with a signed consent form which can be found at www.wkrbc.org
Must have eaten and drank well prior to donation
Travel and medical history will be discussed,
Check any medications with blood center staff
Donors must present photo Identification upon registration.
Blood Center hours are as follows:
Monday, Wednesday and Friday: 8:30 am to 5:30 pm
Any additional efforts will be announced.