April 2026
As the seasons change, so does the need for blood. Each spring, blood banks work to rebuild supplies ahead of the busy summer months, when demand rises and donations often fall short.
A blood drive is currently underway with Bloodworks Northwest, helping ensure patients across the region continue to receive the care they need. For people facing surgery, trauma or serious illness, access to donated blood can make all the difference.
A gift that saves lives
Chuck Douville, M.D., chief of surgery at Providence St. Vincent Medical Center, has seen firsthand how vital blood donations are throughout his career as a heart and lung surgeon.
“I can’t overstate the impact of blood on the community and the ability to give people blood,” he says.
For many patients, donated blood is what makes recovery possible. “Every day we are giving people blood because people have chosen to donate and give what is literally a gift of life,” Dr. Douville says.
Why spring and summer matter
As warmer weather arrives, accident-related injuries tend to increase, especially on crowded roads.
Dr. Douville describes the period between Memorial Day and Labor Day as the “100 deadliest days,” when more people are traveling and more accidents occur. In severe cases, a single car accident victim can require as many as 100 pints of blood.
At the same time, winter weather and seasonal illnesses can slow donations, leaving blood banks strained just as demand begins to rise.
One hour that can change a life
Donating blood is one of the most direct ways individuals can support public health and their neighbors in need.
“That donation of blood — which will probably take about an hour of somebody’s time — changes a life … ” Dr. Douville says.
While some people hesitate because of time, needles or uncertainty, Dr. Douville encourages donors to focus on the impact.
“Blood is a scare resource that’s given only when we have to,” he says. “But when we need it, we really need it.”
Related
- See the original story aired on KPTV.
- See more of our services at Providence St. Vincent Medical Center.
- Read about our generous community in Hood River changing the lives of families with milk donations.
