The blood shortage has reached emergency levels here, according to the Community Blood Center.
Although there has been a chronic blood shortage since the onset of the pandemic, the local supply has dropped to a less than three-day supply of readily available blood, according to a spokesman. Fears of the COVID-19 Delta variant were responsible for a greater drop in donations, according to blood center officials.
Health officials at the University of Kansas Health System said Monday morning that the blood shortage was “incredibly concerning for emergency rooms.”
“We are deeply worried by the recent drop in donations — at this concerning time it’s critical that healthy donors continue to come forward to help their neighbors,” said Patsy Shipley, executive director of Community Blood Center. “We thought we’d see our local blood supply recover with the return of school blood drives in the fall, but fears surrounding the Delta variant are presenting significant obstacles. A robust blood supply is essential for our healthcare system to function and we must do everything we can to strengthen it at this time of uncertainty.”
According to a spokesman, donating blood is safe and it only takes one hour. Extra precautions are being taken to help prevent the person-to-person spread of COVID-19.
All donors and CBC staff are required to wear a mask and staff are rpacticing health self-assessments before presenting at work.
People are not eligible to donate if they’re experiencing a cold, sore throat, respiration infection or flu-like symptoms.
The CBC has several donor centers in the Kansas City area, including in Kansas City, Missouri, and in Johnson County.
There are also several blood drives scheduled in Wyandotte County. They include:
• Frontier Justice, 10000 France Family Drive, Kansas City, Kansas, will have a blood drive from noon to 6 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 1. There will be a donor bus. To make an appointment, visit savealifenow.org or call 816-753-4040.
• Providence YMCA-Ball Family Center, 8601 Parallel Parkway, will have a blood drive from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 1, in the multi-purpose room. To make an appointment, visit savealifenow.org or call 816-753-4040.
• Bonner Springs High School, 100 McDanield St., Bonner Springs, will have a blood drive from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 9, in the gym. To make an appointment, visit savealifenow.org or call 816-753-4040.
• Providence Medical Center, 8929 Parallel Parkway, Kansas City, Kansas, will have a blood drive from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Friday, Sept. 10, in the auditorium rooms. To make an appointment, visit esavealifenow.org or call 816-753-4040.
• The First Christian Church, Bonner Springs, will hold a Community Blood Center blood drive from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 14, at the church Fellowship Hall, 148 N. Nettleton, Bonner Springs. To make an appointment, visit savealifenow.org or call 816-753-4040.
• The University of Kansas Medical Center, 2146 W. 39th Ave., will hold a blood drive from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 16, in the Health Education Building, Ad Astra, fifth floor, in Kansas City, Kansas. To make an appointment, visit savealifenow.org or call 816-753-4040.
• Christ the King Catholic Church will hold a Community Blood Center blood drive from 12:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. Friday, Sept. 17, at Davern Hall, church basement, 3024 N. 53rd. To make an appointment, visit savealifenow.org or call 816-753-4040.
• Kansas City Kansas Community College, 7250 State Ave., will have a blood drive from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 21, in Room 2325, Jewell Center. To make an appointment, visit savealifenow.org or call 816-753-4040.
Additional blood drives in the Kansas City area are listed at savealifenow.org.
