http://ozarkspub.vo.llnwd.net/o37/KSMU/audio/mp3/cbco-local-blood-supply-emergency-levels-not-seen-joplin-tornado_75382.mp3
Officials at Community Blood Center of the Ozarks are issuing an emergency appeal for blood donations. As KSMU’s Jennifer Davidson reports, this is the first “code red alert” since May of 2011, when Joplin was struck by an EF5 tornado.
The CBCO says inventories of all blood types are dangerously low, and that Rg-negative supplies are nearly depleted. The severe winter weather has meant that several blood drives have been cancelled, including those at area high schools. This, combined with the holiday season, means blood donations have been way down.
The CBCO reported Tuesday that O-negative, B-negative, and A-negative top the list of critically needed blood types for the thirty-eight hospitals it serves in the Ozarks.
According to Don Thomason, executive director of the Community Blood Center of the Ozarks, donations dropped more than 30% in the month of December.
Since a single trauma victim can require hundreds of units of blood, he says this is a grave situation for the community.
Eligible donors must be at least sixteen years old, weigh at least 110 pounds, and be in good health.
The centers on Campbell and Glenstone are expanding their hours this week (posted below). To learn more you can visit www.cbco.org or call 1-800-280-5337.
Hours:
Campbell Donor Center
220 W. Plainview Rd.
Springfield, MO 65810
Today thru Friday
7:00 am – 7:00 PM
Saturday
7:00 am – 1:00 PM
Reser Donor Center
2230 S. Glenstone Ave.
Springfield, MO 65804
Today thru Friday
7:00 am – 7:00 PM