O My...Blood Banks Are Strapped For Specific Type Of Blood

KLCC | By Brian Bull

Published January 21, 2021 at 3:48 PM PST

If your blood type is “O”, then a regional blood bank wants YOU.

Mark Smith is a business development representative with Bloodworks Northwest. He says they generally need about a thousand units of blood a day to keep hospitals stocked.

“Currently right now, we are experiencing an urgent need for O type of blood. So that would be O negative or O positive. That blood type represents about 43 percent of all blood types. So it’s a large chunk of blood percentage wise, that is needed.”

Smith says Type O donors can go to the Bloodworks Northwest website to find their nearest blood drive and schedule an appointment. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, walk-ins aren’t allowed, currently.

Appointments can be made here: www.bloodworksnw.org/

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Brian Bull

Brian Bull is an assistant professor of journalism at the University of Oregon, and remains a contributor to the KLCC news department. He began working with KLCC in June 2016. In his 27+ years as a public media journalist, he's worked at NPR, Twin Cities Public Television, South Dakota Public Broadcasting, Wisconsin Public Radio, and ideastream in Cleveland. His reporting has netted dozens of accolades, including four national Edward R. Murrow Awards (22 regional), the Ohio Associated Press' Best Reporter Award, Best Radio Reporter from the Native American Journalists Association, and the PRNDI/NEFE Award for Excellence in Consumer Finance Reporting.

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