BELLINGHAM, WA (MyBellinghamNow.com) – Hospitals in our region are in desperate need of blood donors.

Bloodworks Northwest declared a “Code Red” on Wednesday, June 17, amid a regional blood supply that’s reached emergency levels.

A Code Red is declared when Bloodworks has a lower than one-to-two-day supply of critical blood types and platelets. Hospitals rely on donated blood to treat trauma patients, perform surgeries, support cancer care and respond to emergencies.

Donations are as critical as ever during what the non-profit calls the “100 Deadliest Days” between Labor Day and Memorial Day, when donations decline and major events strain their supply.

“This is a Code Red situation,” Bloodworks’ President & CEO Curt Bailey said. “We have pulled out all the stops to increase the supply of blood available to patients, but without immediate donor support, hospitals may face difficult decisions about how to manage limited blood inventory.”

Bloodworks has an upcoming blood drive in Fairhaven from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Friday, June 19.

It also has several more mobile drives coming up in July along with its everyday donor center on W Bakerview Drive.