Puget Sound Blood Center representatives announced in a press release that Western Washington’s blood supply is nearing emergency levels. Due to the recent snowy weather, PSBC is down more than 1,700 blood and 50 platelet donations and has called off more than 27 blood drives.

The PSBC is the world’s largest transfusion service. It serves patients in more than 70 hospitals and clinics in Western Washington.

PSBC communications director Michael Young said he expected to see a drop in donor participation during the holiday season as students are heading home, but when winter travel was coupled with ice and snow, the effects on the blood supply became dangerous.

“We’ve actually seen our levels in the inventory drop 20 percent in the past two weeks due to weather,” Young said. “It’s been much more extreme than usual. Parking lots were iced over and we couldn’t get our bloodmobile to them.”

According to the press release, in order to keep a sufficient blood supply in Western Washington, about 900 donor registrations must be made daily.

The center has a hard time maintaining that number when the UW’s community is dormant during winter vacation.

“We depend on students tremendously,” Young said. “I believe that almost 20 percent of our inventory comes from student blood drives, whether that be colleges or high schools.”

Monette Anderson, a PSBC donor resources representative, said UW organizations usually host 10 to 15 blood drives per month on campus, but during December the number of drives is fewer.

“When students come back in January we get really excited,” Anderson said.

Young explained that when the center’s inventory is at an operational level, it has a four-day supply of blood; at an emergency level the center has a one-day supply. Blood types O- and O+ are at a two-day supply level and B- is at an emergency level.

“If our hospitals’ needs increase, we may need to import blood from other parts of the country,” Young said. “It could be the difference between life and death.”

PSBC is the transfusion service for the UW Medical Center. Terry Gernsheimer, the hospital’s medical director, said the center hasn’t suffered because of the shortage.

“We were very fortunate in that we did not have to cancel any surgeries or have any patient go without the blood they needed,” Gernsheimer said. “Still, blood supplies are low at this time of year and we are urging people to come in so that we don’t fall below critical levels that are needed in case of local emergencies or unexpected patient needs.”

PSBC representatives are encouraging everyone who can safely donate to do so. Donors can stop by any drive or call to make an appointment.

Additional centers have opened to make donating easier, and drives are being scheduled for extra days.

Center workers are hoping to schedule enough donation appointments in the coming weeks to ensure Western Washington’s hospitals start the year with an adequate blood supply.

To donate blood, make an appointment by calling 1-800-398-7888 or by visiting the center’s Web site, www.pspc.org.

Reach reporter Katie McVicker at news@dailyuw.com.