There are several blood drives coming in and around Emporia to close out October — which is good because a lot of blood is needed both locally and nationwide.
The national blood supply is at its lowest fall levels since 2015, due to a combination of COVID-19 and national disasters like Hurricane Ida. This is impacting Newman Regional Health, which is at its minimum safe level for most blood types. Director of Laboratory Calvin Murphy is urging people to donate because blood is needed for a range of treatments.
Murphy says the hospital has partnered with the Red Cross for quite some time on blood donations and all blood-related products, so the nationwide shortage is having an obvious — and adverse — impact locally.
Red Cross spokesperson Susan Faler says local donations can stay local or they can go across the country.
Monday’s blood drive is full, but there are slots available for a blood drive Tuesday at the Emporia Presbyterian Church West Campus, 1702 West 15th, from 8 am to 2 pm. Another drive will be held at Northern Heights High School on Oct. 20 from 9 am to 3 pm. Emporia High will have a drive from 7:30 am to 2 pm Oct. 28.
To schedule a blood donation, call 800-RED-CROSS or go online to www.redcrossblood.org. If you have scheduled a donation and can’t attend, Faler encourages you to cancel instead of being a no-show because others will then see the open time slot and may schedule themselves to give blood. If you are giving blood, Faler says face masks are required.
