SPOKANE, Wash. — Local blood banks are facing a critical shortage during the holiday season as donation appointments go unfilled.
Vitalant Blood Donation typically maintains a four-day supply of blood products but currently has only a two-day supply of O-negative blood, the universal blood type used in emergencies.
Holiday schedules, seasonal illnesses and winter road conditions are creating fewer donations during a challenging time for blood collection.
“It’s a lot to carve out of your day – on top of family visiting and shopping and all that,” said Ashley McDaniel, a regular blood donor.
While more than 60 percent of the population is eligible to donate blood, only about 3 percent actually give. Vitalant aims to see about 350 donors each day across the region to meet hospital demand.
The downtown Spokane donation center recently saw 38 donors while having almost as many open appointments available.
Dennis Kraner, a longtime donor, said the process is simple.
“I’ve been donating blood for years,” Kraner said. “It’s just a small pin-poke and you can’t beat the snacks after.”
The donation process takes about an hour total, but the actual blood draw is just 15 minutes for whole blood donations.
For McDaniel, donating blood serves as an example for her children.
“It’s a good influence, I feel like, on my kids, too. Showing them, you know, donating, volunteering, giving back. So I like to lead by example,” McDaniel said.
Three of McDaniel’s family members have benefited from blood donations.
Vitalant encourages community members to schedule appointments during the holiday season when regular donors may be traveling or busy with family obligations.
Donors who give blood before the end of December will be entered in a nationwide raffle to win $20,000. All donors can also receive a $15 gift card through Jan. 4.
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