Nearly 500 donors register at WWU blood drive

The Puget Sound Blood Center's quarterly blood drive at Western Washington University Oct. 22 to 24 was  a huge success, the center's Carol Rondello announced last week. During the drive, the center registered 480 donors and collected 370 units of blood., enough to benefit up to 1,110 patients.

Each weekday, Rondello said, 900 people must donate blood to meet the needs of patients in hospitals in the western Washington region. The blood drive at provided more than 17 percent of all the blood needed the following day in hospitals throughout western Washington.

The WWU community is invited to celebrate the success of the blood drive and enjoy free cake and brownies at a reception from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. today in the Wellness Outreach Center in Viking Union Room 432 on campus. Attendees should bring their own cup if they wouldlike something to drink.

The following patients are just a few of the many who have received blood from Puget Sound Blood Center in the past few days:

  • 20-year-old patient (Construction accident) has been issued 55 units red blood cells, 32 units plasma, 6 units platelets and 6 cryoprecipitate pools.
  • 46-year-old patient (Open heart surgery) has been issued 6 units red blood cells, 8 units platelets, 12 units plasma & 4 cryoprecipitate pools.
  • 34-year-old patient (Obstetric bleeding) has been issued 11 units red blood cells, 2 units platelets, 10 units plasma & 3 cryoprecipitate pools.
  • 64-year-old patient (Lung transplant) has been issued 12 units red blood cells, 4 units plasma, & 2 units platelets.
  • 58-year-old patient (Cancer) has been issued 26 units red blood cells, 18 units plasma, 1 unit platelets & 2 cryoprecipitate pools.
  • 41-year-old patient (Motorcycle crash) has been issued 12 units red blood cells, 4 units plasma & 1 unit platelets.

The next blood drive at WWU is scheduled for Jan. 26 to 28.