Puget Sound Blood Center extended its urgent appeal this week for people to donate blood after a significant decline in the blood supply following the holiday season. While donations normally dip during holiday periods, this year the center faces critical shortages for some blood types.

“With schools out and holiday activities over several weeks, we saw the number of blood donors fall by 20 percent,” said David Leitch, director of donor and volunteer resources for the Puget Sound Blood Center. “With supplies already low for some blood types, the risk of a post-holiday supply crisis is looming.”

There is an acute shortage of platelets and O-negative red cells — the blood type that can be given to patients with any other blood type. Although supplies of these components are especially low, the center welcomes donors of all blood types to maintain a strong supply for patients in need.

“We are hoping that people — from regular donors to first-timers — will help us to meet the need by scheduling just one hour to save lives by donating blood between now and Jan. 24,” Leitch said.

The center supports nearly 90 hospitals in the Northwest, and the demand for blood components is continuous: patients in hospitals are still undergoing surgeries, ERs are treating traumatic injuries, people are receiving treatments for cancer and surgeons are performing organ transplants — all depending on the blood supply to be there.

Donors are welcome at any one of the organizations 12 donor centers, or can check for community blood drives underway close to where they live or work.

The Federal Way center is located at 1414 S. 324th St., Suite B101. To contact that clinic, call 253-945-8660.

Information about locations and times can be found at psbc.org. Appointments are encouraged, but walk-ins are welcome. Appointments can be made online at schedule.psbc.org or by phone by calling 1-800-398-7888.