Earth Day Blood Drive Saturday

Tom Petersen steps up
Bloodmobile at Shoreline Fire Safety Center

Fill'er Up! Earth Day Blood Drive April 23
By Tom Petersen

One of the great neighborhood traditions, the Earth Day Blood Drive, is back for the eighth year. The Bloodworks Northwest mobile unit will be by the Shoreline Fire Safety Center at the corner of Richmond Beach Road and 20th Ave NW on that Spring-y-est of Days, Saturday, April 23.

Bloodworks hopes to fill the schedule. Donations are taken between 10am and noon and 1pm and 4pm. Appointments, which can be made online, are recommended but are not strictly necessary: walk-ups are welcome and encouraged.

Low on Type O

Bloodworks is reporting a shortage of both O+ and O- blood, and so is sending out a special call for people with those types. O Negative is the "universal" blood type that can be transfused into any patient, and is thus especially needed.

Extra Protection

In order to protect the blood supply, people who have recently travelled to South America and may have been exposed to the Zika virus are being deferred. People unsure about their eligibility are encouraged to come to the bloodmobile for a screening.