(Atlantic) Cass Health’s blood drive partner, LifeServe Blood Center, says that blood donations continue to decline as several blood types reach critically low levels across the region.
Cass Health Laboratory Director Laura Wieser is encouraging anyone who is eligible to donate blood during the August 11 Cass Health Blood Drive.
Both national and local blood supplies are dangerously low, raising concerns that hospitals may not have enough blood available for patients if donations do not increase. According to the blood center, Type O-negative, O-positive and A-negative blood currently have only a one-to-two-day supply on-hand. Other blood types are at a two-to-three-day supply.
Donations are used to help patients undergoing surgery, cancer treatment, trauma care, and other medical emergencies. LifeServe provides blood to more than 175 hospitals across Iowa, Nebraska, South Dakota and Illinois.
The Cass Health Blood Drive will be held Tuesday, August 11, from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. in Conference Room 2 at Cass Health. Appointments are encouraged and can be scheduled at casshealth.org/community/lifeserve.
