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Blood Bank Asks for Increased Donations After Helping Hurricane Victims

cbco.org

The Community Blood Center of the Ozarksneeds help replenishing its blood supplies after sending 100 units to hurricane ravaged areas of Florida. 

According to the CBCO, separate shipments were sent to Lee Memorial Hospital in Ft. Myers, Florida and OneBlood, the independent supplier of blood to many hospitals in Florida.  CBCO spokesman Chris Pilgrim says blood donations have just resumed in the areas hit by Hurricane Irma, but acute shortages exist while people put their lives back together after the disaster.

The CBCO also helped southeast Texas after it was hit by Hurricane Harvey, and the organization’s executive director, Anthony Roberts, says there was an increase in donations locally afterwards.  He’s asking donors to again help build back the CBCO’s reserves.  There are currently shortages of A Negative and O Negative blood types.  There's a two day supply of those types on shelves at area hospitals.

On average, a transfusion takes place every seven minutes, and around 220 donations are needed each day to meet the area’s blood needs.

CBCO Donor Centers:

  • Thomson Donor Center, 220 W. Plainview Rd. - Open Monday through Friday from 7 am to 7 pm; Saturday from 7 am to 1 pm and Sunday from 9 am to 3 pm
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  • Joplin Donor Center, Northpark Mall - 101 N. Range Line Rd. - Open Monday through Friday from 11 am to 6 pm
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  • Springdale Donor Center, 3503 S. Thompson Rd. - Open Monday through Thursday from 11 am to 6 pm and Friday from 8 am to 2 pm
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  • Bentonville Donor Center, 1400 SE Walton Blvd. - Open Monday through Thursday from 11 am to 6 pm and Friday from 8 am to 2 pm
Michele Skalicky has worked at KSMU since the station occupied the old white house at National and Grand. She enjoys working on both the announcing side and in news and has been the recipient of statewide and national awards for news reporting. She likes to tell stories that make a difference. Michele enjoys outdoor activities, including hiking, camping and leisurely kayaking.