With emergency blood supplies at critically-low levels, Puget Sound Blood Center is issuing an urgent plea for volunteer donations — donations which tailed off during the recent wintry weather in the last two weeks.

The blood center keeps more that 70 hospitals and clinics in Western Washington supplied with emergency blood platelets and plasma. Hospitals affected by the shortage are reportedly experiencing a 20 percent drop – 1,000 units of blood – due to the snowy conditions that has made traveling treacherous and roadways impassable.

In particular:

• Type O negative blood and type O positive blood are at a critical two-day supply level

• Type B negative blood is at an emergency one-day supply level.

The Puget Sound Blood Center has had to cancel more than 27 blood drives and as a result has lost about 1,700 blood donations.

Because of that, the Puget Sound Blood Center has issued an urgent appeal for blood donations.

“As we head into another holiday week, it is imperative that donors know of the need, as well as where they can donate,” Michael Young, spokesman for the blood center, said in a press release.

“People are encouraged to donate blood whenever they can safely get to a center or blood drive to ensure we start the New Year with an adequate supply of blood for area hospitals,” he said.

It takes over 900 donor registrations every day to maintain an operational blood supply in Western Washington.

This week, the blood center’s donor centers are open for business and there are a number of mobile drives.

The closest donor center to Kirkland is in Bellevue at 1021 112th Avenue N.E.

Interested volunteer donors can book an appointment to give blood by calling 425-453-4011 or visiting the Puget Sound Blood Center online. The blood bank is also opening additional centers on additional days through the holidays.

For general information, call 1-800-398-7888. Walk-ins are also welcome.