Community Blood Center Declares Blood Emergency

The Community Blood Center of Greater Kansas City announced a blood emergency, saying the Blood Center only has a three-day blood supply.

The Blood Center reports that the long-term impact of the pandemic has resulted in a year of virtually no youth first-time donors, and hundreds fewer blood drives.

There are also 25,000 donors in the greater Kansas City area alone that have yet to return to donate since before the pandemic.

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 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.”

Donating blood is safe and it only takes one hour. Donors can schedule appointments by calling 1-877-468-6844 or visiting www.savealifenow.org.

The Community Blood Center of Greater Kansas City provides nearly 200,000 blood products per year to approximately 65 area hospitals – and calls upon about 580 donors each day.

KPGZ News - Brian Watts contributed to this story