Today, the Community Blood Center announced a blood emergency, with only a three-day blood supply.
The long-term impact of the pandemic has resulted in a year of virtually no youth first-time donors, hundreds fewer blood drives and 25,000 donors in the Greater Kansas City area alone that have yet to return to donate since before the pandemic, according to a spokesman.
Complicating matters, there has been a recent surge in blood usage as hospitals perform surgeries and patients seek medical care that was postponed during the pandemic, the spokesman stated. The increased need and lag in donors has created a chronic gap in blood donations.
“As the region reopens, local blood usage is going up and far outpacing the number of donations we are receiving,” said Patsy Shipley, senior director of donor recruitment and collections at Community Blood Center. “Through this new media campaign, we are hoping to raise awareness and encourage lapsed donors who have not donated since before COVID-19 to return and to attract the next generation of blood donors to help us build a healthy blood supply.”
With this campaign, CBC is hoping a bit of humor will help tackle preconceived notions around donating blood and send the message that donating blood is easy, a spokesman said. CBC is using the campaign to demonstrate that giving blood is simpler and less painful than life’s awkward moments.
Donating blood is safe and it only takes one hour, according to the spokesman. Extra precautions are being taken to help prevent the person-to-person spread of COVID-19, the spokesman said.
CBC staff are also practicing health self-assessments prior to presenting at work. As always, people are not eligible to donate if they’re experiencing a cold, sore throat, respiratory infection or flu-like symptoms.
Additional information on donor eligibility and COVID-19 precautions is available at https://savealifenow.org/donate-blood/covid-19-and-blood-donation/.
Donors can schedule appointments by calling 1-877-468-6844 or visiting www.savealifenow.org.
Upcoming mobile blood drives in Wyandotte County, in order of date:
• Bonner Springs United Methodist Church, 425 W. Morse Ave., Bonner Springs, will hold a Community Blood Center blood drive from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday, June 15, at the church Fellowship Hall. To make an appointment, visit esavealifenow.org or call 816-753-4040.
• Wyandotte Masonic Lodge No. 3 will have a Community Blood Center blood drive from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, June 19, in the lodge dining hall, 2835 N. 103rd Terrace, Kansas City, Kansas. To make an appointment, visit esavealifenow.org or call 816-753-4040.
• The University of Kansas Medical Center will hold a Community Blood Center blood drive from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday, June 22, and from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. Wednesday, June 23, at the Health Education Building, Ad Astra, fifth floor, 2146 W. 39th Ave., Kansas City, Kansas. To make an appointment, visit esavealifenow.org or call 816-753-4040.
• Christ the King Catholic Church will sponsor a Community Blood Center blood drive from 12:30 pm. to 5 p.m. Monday, June 28, at Davern Hall, church basement, 3024 N. 53rd St., Kansas City, Kansas. To make an appointment, visit esavealifenow.org or call 816-753-4040.
• Legends Outlets will have a Community Blood Center blood drive from noon to 6 p.m. Tuesday, June 29, at Suite T103, across from the Old Navy store, at 1843 Village West Parkway, Kansas City, Kansas. To make an appointment, visit esavealifenow.org or call 816-753-4040.
• Kansas City Kansas Community College will hold a Community Blood Center blood drive from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Wednesday, June 30, at the Jewell Center, Room 2325, at 7250 State Ave., Kansas City, Kansas. To make an appointment, visit esavealifenow.org or call 816-753-4040.
