Letter to Editor | Thank You for Support of Orcas Blood Drive

— from Sasha Seiden for Bloodworks Northwest —

On Thursday, March 15 the Orcas Island community blood drive registered a total of 79 donors. We welcomed five first-time-donors and congratulated the following donors for reaching milestone gallon markers: four donors for reaching one gallon; one donor for reaching three gallons; two donors for reaching four gallons; one donor for reaching five gallons.

We were able to collect 77 units of whole blood. Since each unit of whole blood is separated into the different components (red cells, platelets, and plasma) your efforts will benefit as many as 231 patients in hospitals we serve. The blood donations collected at the blood drive are critical to maintain a stable blood supply for surgeries, medical emergencies, and for supporting patients battling life-threatening illnesses like leukemia and other cancers.

Thanks to all the donors who took time out of their busy day to donate blood. We greatly appreciate your time and compassion to help patients in need.

With great appreciation to the Orcas Island Lions Club for blood drive sponsorship; Jim Biddick and Martin Arnold for organizing the drive; fellow Orcas Island Lions Club members for their assistance and volunteering; the Kiwanis and Velma Doty for their support and volunteering; the Orcas Island Fire Department, Chief Scott Williams, Bryce Hamilton, George Schermerhorn, and Jim Schuh for providing the blood drive site and their support; Key Club Advisor Maurice Austin and Key Club members for promoting the blood drive at Orcas Island High School; and all of the volunteers who helped on the day of the drive. You all play such an integral role in our mission to save lives – we wouldn’t be able to do it without your help.

On behalf of patients in our community’s hospitals, I wish to extend our thanks to you. These are a few patients who recently received blood products from Bloodworks Northwest:

• Patient with obstetric hemorrhage. Patient used: six units of Red Blood Cells, seven units plasma, three units platelets.
• Patient with cardiac surgery, blood loss, coagulopathy. Patient used: 21 units of Red Blood Cells, 20 units plasma, six units platelets.
• Patient with perforated diverticulitis. Patient used: 11 units of Red Blood Cells, six units plasma, two units platelets.

Each day, 800 people must donate blood to meet the needs of patients in hospitals. Your blood drive played an important role in helping meet that goal.

The next Orcas Island Blood Drive is Thursday, June 14. At this next blood drive, we will be offering Apheresis donation in addition to whole-blood donation, allowing donors to give a platelet-only donation or a plasma-only donation. Please click on the links to find out more: To find out if you might be an ideal candidate, please contact 1-800-398-7888. Apheresis appointments are limited.

If you would like to schedule your next appointment, please click here or call 1-800-398-7888

Thank you for your support,