Nebraska Community Blood Bank (NCBB) is calling on eligible donors to give blood and platelets to meet the needs of local hospitals.
In what has become an ongoing crisis since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, today’s emergency has led for a request for local hospitals to reduce their non-critical use of Rh- negative blood types.
“In the past two and a half years, we’ve seen a dramatic decrease in the number of first-time donors and young donors,” said Kathy Geist, vice president. “We’ve seen a 47% decrease in blood collected from high school blood drives, and a 31% decrease in first-time donors.”
“While we are working diligently to increase staffing levels which will increase blood drives and appointments, it’s going to take some time to get there,” said Geist. “We continue to ask for public support to visit a local blood center by booking some time sooner and also later.”
NCBB’s blood emergency aims to increase blood donations ahead of the winter holidays to ensure hospitals can provide life-saving transfusions patients need.
“It’s important to assure people that as of right now, anyone who critically needs a blood transfusion can get one,” said Jen White, director of hospital services. “If we can significantly increase the number of donors this week our supplies will be replenished to a more stable level as we head into the holidays.”
Giving blood takes less than an hour from start to finish. Only eligible blood donors can meet the need for blood and platelets locally and across the nation. To learn more or to schedule an appointment, visit www.ncbb.org/donate or call 877.486.9414.
