Blood emergency declared: Donors needed

The Community Blood Center (CBC) has declared the first blood emergency of 2023. The blood emergency is due to several evolving factors including cold and flu season, a high number of lapsed blood donors and a decrease in first-time donors. In January, CBC received 2,000 fewer blood donations than the year prior and blood donations are below hospital and patient needs.

The number of blood donations still are not back to pre-pandemic levels. Compounding the problem is a continued lag in first-time and youth donors, which remain about half of pre-pandemic levels. In addition to whole blood donors, platelet donors are urgently needed. With a shelf life of just 7 days, CBC relies on dedicated platelet donors to help patients undergoing chemotherapy, those with bleeding disorders, new mothers, and more.

LMH Health has two upcoming blood drives that provide the opportunity for community members to donate blood to help ease the emergency.

• LMH Health West Campus blood drive
  9:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m., Thursday, March 23
  Schedule your appointment at savealifenow.org/group and enter group code EH48.
• LMH Health Main Campus blood drive
  8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m., Friday, March 24
  Schedule your appointment at savealifenow.org/group and enter group code TPJS.

If you have questions or need help scheduling your donation, contact LMH Health Blood Bank supervisor Faith Friesen.