If you want to go above and beyond with your New Year’s resolutions in 2026, consider adding “saving a life” to the list. The good news is you don’t have to learn CPR or go through years of schooling–it’s as easy as scheduling a blood donation appointment!
Don’t think your blood is needed? Think again! Annually, 5 million Americans require a blood transfusion, which amounts to one person every two seconds. These recipients come from all corners of our community and include trauma victims, cancer patients, those with organ failure, surgery patients, obstetric patients, and others. Here in the Pacific Northwest, 1,000 donors are needed every day to maintain a stable supply for the hospitals in our region.
Photograph courtesy of Bloodworks Northwest
Dr. Kirsten Alcorn is the Co-Chief Medical Officer for Bloodworks Northwest, which provides blood to 95% of hospitals in the Pacific Northwest. While blood is needed year round, she says there is a particular need for new and returning donors to step up in the month of January.
“When people are traveling during the holidays and having holidays, we see a dip in blood donations,” Alcorn says. “So oftentimes in January we see a dip, and we really, really need to try to avoid that, so no patient who needs it would be faced with the potential of going without.”
Without donors, there is no blood, which can have severe consequences for patients in need of transfusions. Blood has a shelf life of only about 42 days, and platelets expire after five to seven days, so there’s no way to store up—the supply needs to be replenished constantly.
Photograph courtesy of Bloodworks Northwest
“There’s no manufactured substitute for any form of blood transfusion at this point,” says Alcorn. “There are no red blood cells, no platelets, no plasma, none of that stuff can you buy off the shelf in a box. So we’re very dependent, absolutely dependent, on some human beings being donors, so that other human beings who need blood products can have them.”
Donating blood is an easy and impactful way to support your community and save lives, yet only 3% of eligible donors donate in America each year. Is something holding you back from giving life saving blood?
Fear: I don’t like needles!
“A lot of people do cite being afraid of needles,” says Alcorn. “What I would say is it’s really not worse than getting a needle stick that you might have for other reasons, like getting your annual labs checked or something like that, and you’re lying down. There’s somebody taking care of you the whole time.” Feeling a slight pinch when the needle is inserted is common, but other than that the process of blood donation is quite painless!
Photograph courtesy of Bloodworks Northwest
Fear: What if I’m not eligible?
Far more people are able to donate blood than are not! As a general rule, all healthy individuals 18-years or older who weigh at least 110 pounds are eligible. 16- and 17-year-olds are also eligible in Washington with special permissions.
“There’s a lot of hearsay out there about eligibility,” says Alcorn. “There’s also old news out there about eligibility that hasn’t been replaced by current facts.” She recommends visiting Bloodworks Northwest’s website for information about how eligibility is and is not impacted by medications, health conditions, international travel, sexual activity, or substance use. Potential donors are always encouraged to reach out to staff if they still have questions.
Photograph courtesy of Bloodworks Northwest
Fear: What if I faint?
The majority of donors feel fine after donating blood, especially when they hydrate, eat salty snacks, sleep well, and eat a good breakfast. Alcorn also emphasizes that Bloodworks Northwest employees and volunteers are there to care for donors and provide them with the best possible experience. The donation process takes around 10 to 15 minutes and only takes one pint of blood. The average human body has 10 to 12 pints and replaces the volume of donated blood within 24 hours. Bloodworks Northwest provides refreshments and snacks to look forward to after your donation to replenish the sugars and liquids in your body.
Feeling confident to donate blood and save a life? Bloodworks Northwest has a donor center in Bellingham where you can schedule an appointment any day of the week, and you can also check their website for mobile blood drive information. After you give blood for the first time, you can even sign up for email updates from Bloodworks Northwest and find out which local hospital is saving lives as a result of your donation! Schedule an appointment online or by calling 800.398.7888. 410 W. Bakerview Rd., Ste. 117, Bellingham, 360.671.8848, bloodworksnw.org
