Tacoma-Pierce County blood bank. A driver exits the building with a delivery of human blood. The carton states "Handle with care. Do not allow to freeze or become overheated. Rush. Deliver immediately upon arrival- day or night." Human blood can only be kept 21 days. Taxi drivers delivered the blood to local hospitals. (TNT 7/22/1956, pg. B-4+)

Tacoma-Pierce County Blood Bank (Tacoma); Blood; Blood donations--Tacoma;

Tacoma-Pierce County blood bank. An individual gives a blood donation, while a blood pressure cuff records any pressure changes. The blood drains by tubing into a bottle. A blood donation could be given quickly, easily and painlessly and the drawing blood process only took 6 minutes. Human blood cannot be manufactured, it must come from donations. The Blood Bank was celebrating its 10th anniversary. The bank was the supplier of blood to all Pierce County hospitals. (TNT 7/22/1956, pg B-4+)

Tacoma-Pierce County Blood Bank (Tacoma); Blood; Blood donations--Tacoma;

Tacoma-Pierce County blood bank. A delivery driver exits the building with a delivery of human blood. Whole blood is stored under refrigerated conditions. It can only be kept for 21 days. The needed blood is rushed by taxi to local hospitals. The Blood Bank was celebrating its 10th anniversary. Founded in 1946, it was the supplier of blood to all Pierce County hospitals. The non profit group depended on the community for donations. (TNT 7/22/1956, pg. B-4+)

Tacoma-Pierce County Blood Bank (Tacoma); Blood; Blood donations--Tacoma;

Tacoma-Pierce County blood bank. A technician works with blood samples and a microscope in the lab. In the lab the blood is tested for purity, type and RH factor. It is then stored under refrigeration. Whole blood could only be kept 21 days, requiring a continual supply. The Blood Bank was celebrating its 10th anniversary; in those 10 years, it had dispensed 49,000 units of whole blood. (TNT 7/22/1956, pg. B-4+)

Tacoma-Pierce County Blood Bank (Tacoma); Blood; Blood donations--Tacoma;

In August of 1952 the Tacoma Pierce County Blood Bank was critically short of blood. The average supply of blood on hand during the previous three months has been only ten to fifteen pints; this is not enough to cover even a small emergency. Gwenn Huschke, a lab technician, points to an empty shelf in one of the blood bank's refrigerators. This photograph was used in a full page public service ad asking people to donate blood to help restore the whole blood levels to their usual amount. (TNT 8/22/1952, pg. 21)

Tacoma-Pierce County Blood Bank (Tacoma); Nurses--Tacoma--1950-1960; Huschke, Gwenn;

Gwenn Huschke, lab technician at the blood bank, demonstrates how empty the refrigerator is and how low blood supplies are at the Tacoma Pierce County Blood Bank. Three of the five shelves in the refrigerator are almost empty, leaving Tacoma very vulnerable in case of an emergency. Merrill J. Wicks was director of the Blood Bank in 1952. This photograph was used in a full page ad in the TNT, entreating blood donations. The public service ad laid the blame in part on the three month newspaper strike at the TNT, saying that shortages were not kept in the public eye. (TNT 8/22/1952, pg. 21)

Tacoma-Pierce County Blood Bank (Tacoma); Nurses--Tacoma--1950-1960; Huschke, Gwenn;