Critical need for Blood Donations

The Community Blood Center of the Ozarks has announced a critical need for all blood types. According to CBCO, reserves are alarmingly low, due to very high usage levels in area hospitals, and a continued negative impact on donation rates due to the COVID-19 pandemic. After experiencing a substantial drop in hospital blood usage levels during the first months of the COVID-19 pandemic, levels have now rebounded and are approaching record territory. In the past two months, blood usage has been the highest in three years over back-to-back months. While the usage levels of blood donations is up, over 300 regularly scheduled blood drives have been canceled or postponed, affecting over 10,000 much-needed blood donations. Area businesses, churches, and other organizations are being asked to consider hosting a mobile blood drive or to direct their potential donors to a CBCO donor center as part of the Blood Boosters donation program. For additional information on how to schedule a blood drive go online to CBCO.org.