Community urged to make a local, national and global impact by donating blood
May 25, 2022
The Community Blood Center (CBC) is in serious need of blood donors today and into the next week. The national blood shortage has continued to impact the local blood supply as well as national. CBC’s available blood supply is concerning at this time. A recent local emergency has depleted the Type A and O blood supply to dangerously low levels.
In addition, on Wednesday, May 25, 2022, CBC responded to the school shooting in Uvalde, Texas after the Blood Emergency Readiness Corps (BERC) was activated. CBC is one of several blood centers on-call this week to respond to national emergency blood needs. At this time, multiple units of blood have been sent to Texas. It is CBC’s responsibility to have these units of blood in reserve during on-call weeks.
Community members must act now to ensure blood is available for the everyday needs of patients and any other emergency situations that could arise. The blood supply is currently in an extremely fragile state. All healthy and eligible blood donors are urged to schedule a blood donation.
It isn’t just at home that the blood supply is facing crisis. As part of a nationwide effort, CBC is offering assistance in providing blood collection supplies to Ukraine. As the war has continued, Ukraine has experienced shortages in many critical supplies related to blood donation, including blood bags. According to reports, a warehouse with blood collection supplies was destroyed. Many blood centers have also been destroyed. From May 27-June 12, CBC will be making a monetary donation for everyone who presents to donate.
“We currently have an urgent situation. A recent local emergency has significantly impacted our available blood supply, and the only way we can return to a secure level is by the community donating blood now,” said John Hagins, President and Chief Executive Officer, The Community Blood Center. “When community members come in to donate throughout the next several days, they are not only helping stabilize their community’s blood supply but also providing aid to Ukraine. Local patients and those in Ukraine are relying on us to help meet their blood needs.”
This campaign is a joint effort of America’s Blood Centers (ABC), Blood Centers of America (BCA) and Fresenius Kabi. CBC is a member of ABC and BCA, networks of independent community-based, not-for-profit blood centers. Fresenius Kabi is a global healthcare company that specializes in lifesaving medicines and technologies for infusion, transfusion and clinical nutrition. Fresenius Kabi will be matching all qualifying contributions up to $250,000. All funds raised will go toward purchasing and delivering the most needed items.
Schedule a blood donation appointment here or call (800) 280-4102.