Type O Donors Especially Needed to Replenish Critically Low Reserves
KANSAS CITY, MO – Community Blood Center (CBC) is urging community members to donate as the local blood supply has dropped to a critical 3-4-day level—well below the ideal 7-10-day inventory needed to ensure hospitals are fully prepared for both routine and unexpected patient needs.
Several factors have contributed to this decline, including lingering disruptions from severe winter storms, a seasonal dip due to spring break travel, and fewer school-based blood drives. In February alone, CBC collected nearly 2,000 fewer donations than needed to keep up with hospital demand. Unlike many other medical supplies, blood cannot be manufactured or synthetically produced, and donations must come directly from volunteer donors. It is also perishable, making regular donations critical to maintaining a safe and stable blood supply.
Type O donors are especially needed. O-negative blood is vital for trauma cases when there isn’t time to determine a patient’s blood type, and O-positive—being the most common blood type—is heavily relied upon for surgeries, cancer treatments, and routine medical care.
“As a transplant surgeon, I know the importance of having a robust blood supply,” said Dr. Sean Kumer, Senior Vice President & Chief Medical Officer, Kansas City Division, The University of Kansas Health System “For our patients, donated blood isn’t just a resource—it’s a lifeline. We cannot overstate how critical it is to ensure blood is available when it’s needed most.”
“We rely on a steady stream of donors to maintain a safe and stable blood supply for Kansas City hospitals,” said Chelsey Smith, Director of Public Relations at Community Blood Center. “Right now, we’re seeing fewer donations than we need to keep pace with patient demand. We’re asking anyone who is eligible—especially Type O donors—to take an hour to give and help rebuild the supply for our community.”
Blood donors can give every 56 days, and platelet donors can give twice per month. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently lifted eligibility restrictions for individuals who lived in Europe during certain periods of time. To view current eligibility guidelines, visit savealifenow.org or call 800.688.0900. To make an appointment to donate blood, donors can visit this link.