Some blood drives canceled due to hot weather

Several blood drives scheduled for venues that don't have air conditioning have been canceled this week due to the hot weather, which means hundreds of lost donations, according to the Puget Sound Blood Center.

Blood drives are automatically canceled when temperatures reach 80 degrees in facilities without air conditioning for the "comfort and well-being" of donors, said Michael Young, director of communications for the Blood Center.

Donating in hot weather, however, does not put donors at a health risk, he said.

"We don't have an emergency yet, but if we don't get ahead of this, we will" said Young.

Hospitals and health-care centers in Western Washington depend on about 900 donations daily to maintain supplies. If the blood level reaches a critical level, hospitals may cancel surgeries or be unable to treat accident victims, according to the blood center.

"In the past week alone, we lost nearly 200 donations," said James AuBuchon, president of the blood center. "That number could easily double this week if donors do not come in and donate."

Eleven air-conditioned donor centers are open today in Bellevue, Bellingham, Everett, Federal Way, Lynnwood, Olympia, North Seattle, downtown Seattle, Silverdale, Tukwila and Vancouver, Wash.

Donors can make appointments by calling 1-800-398-7888 or visiting www.psbc.org.

The blood center operates the world's largest transfusion service and supports 185 hospitals across the northwest.

Lindsay Toler: 206-464-2463 or ltoler@seattletimes.com