Washington State DOH urges community to donate blood 

Blood banks across Washington are experiencing a severe shortage of lifesaving blood and blood products.  

According to a Washington State Department of Health (WSDOH) news release, the shortage results from an unexpected global computer systems failure and the seasonal decline in donations. Type O-positive and O-negative donors, who are crucial due to their high compatibility and universal donor status, are particularly needed.  

Among those seeking donations is Bloodworks Northwest, which includes a center in Olympia and mobile drives in Olympia, Lacey, and Tumwater. The Olympia Center is located at 1220 Eastside St SE. Donors can schedule an appointment at the Center here or see the mobile schedule here. 

Blood donation centers urge individuals to schedule appointments soon to ensure the state is ready for increased demand. 

The recent CrowdStrike outage, which disrupted numerous sectors, including airlines and hospitals, has affected blood donation processes. This system failure led to delayed blood shipments and canceled donation appointments. The news release reported that Bloodworks Northwest, for instance, had to cancel 248 appointments, constituting a quarter of their daily total, due to the outage. 

Summer traditionally sees a decline in blood donations, as schools and colleges are on break, and many regular donors are on vacation. This trend further strains the already low blood supply. 

Michael Martinez from Vitalant’s Spokane region emphasized the importance of donations during summer. “You can make a significant impact by donating blood at a center or drive. In just one hour, you can help ensure trauma centers have the blood they need to care for patients this summer.” 

To tackle this shortage, the Northwest Blood Coalition—which includes the American Red Cross, Vitalant Blood Services, and Bloodworks Northwest—is working together to boost donations through coordinated efforts and public outreach.  

“Your community needs you,” stated Dr. Kirsten Alcorn, co-chief medical officer at Bloodworks Northwest. “As a blood donor, you’ve already made a huge, lifesaving impact,” she added, noting the importance of repeated donations. “This summer, we ask you to give again during the final stretch of summer,” Alcorn continued. “Trauma cases spike significantly this time of year, and we need to ensure people have access to the blood they need.” 

Appointments are flexible and last about an hour.  

For more information and to check eligibility requirements, visit the websites of the Northwest Blood Coalition members - Vitalant, Cascade Regional Blood Services, Bloodworks Northwest, and American Red Cross.