Memorial Blood Centers' spokesman Phil Losacker says donations are down in large part due to lingering hesitation following the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Although we’re coming back from it, the number of blood drives out in the community has been greatly diminished, and where our new blood donors come to us from is from those blood drives,” Losacker tells WCCO’s Laura Oakes.
Losacker says if things don't improve, hospitals could be negatively impacted. He says the need for blood is constant, it's easy to give and doesn't take much time.
He adds that they're currently struggling to maintain a 5-7 day supply at local hospitals.
“So that if there is a patient in need, we have that blood on hand,” Losacker said. “Right now we’re trying to stave off that situation so that when our hospitals need that, and when demand might change, we’re prepared to provide that blood for them.”
Losacker says they also need businesses, schools and communities to return to holding blood drives which he says is the biggest reason for the low supply.
Anyone interested in scheduling a blood donation appointment can do so at mbc.org.
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