Blood donation centers are asking the public to consider rolling up their sleeves as reserves dip lower over the winter season.
Kevin Adler, a communications manager at the blood collection nonprofit Vitalant, said that while Vitalant does not have an overall shortage, the organization has a critical need for type O-negative blood.
“ We are hovering about a one and a half day supply of O-negative blood,” Adler said. “ That blood can go into anybody in a moment's notice without having to test or check to see which blood type they have.”
More blood donations of all kinds are needed, he said, as the flu season has kept more regular donors at home. Vitalant currently has a roughly two-day supply across all blood types.
“ We typically try to have or maintain a four-day supply,” Adler said.
Vitalant usually brings in roughly 2,000 units of blood in January for the Spokane region. As of Monday, the nonprofit had recorded about 1,300.
Some rules regarding donation have also changed in recent years, meaning people who were previously told they’re ineligible may now be able to do so.
One change, Adler said, is that people who were ineligible due to previously living in certain countries in Europe are now allowed to donate.
“ Before, you could not donate if you spent a considerable amount of time in certain countries. That is no longer the case,” he said.
New regulations also allow people who have received a tattoo from a licensed tattoo artist to donate the same day.
However, if a person was tattooed in a state that does not regulate tattoos, such as Idaho, there is a three-month waiting period.
The blood donation process typically takes an hour from when someone walks in the door, Adler said, with the donation itself lasting about 10 minutes.
Vitalant, as well as Bloodworks Northwest and the American Red Cross, will hold several regional blood drives in February.
