A Code Red emergency appeal for blood has been issued by the Community Blood Center of the Ozarks. CBCO spokesman Chris Pilgrim says local blood needs are at their highest level since 2015.
The appeal came as many schools were closed Monday due to the ice that coated the Ozarks over the weekend. Blood drives that had been scheduled Monday at Kickapoo and Republic High Schools were supposed to help rebuild the already critically low blood supply, according to Pilgrim.
The CBCO’s senior director of donor recruitment, David Montgomery, says this year’s flu season has also had a significant impact on the blood supply.
According to the CBCO, blood donations dropped more than 500 units in January while local hospital usage increased sharply.
There are four CBCO Donor Centers in the Ozarks, along with mobile blood drives that take place in various towns within the 39 county CBCO service area. CBCO Donor Centers include:
Springfield | 220 W. Plainview Rd. | Monday – Friday | 7 am – 7 pm |
Joplin | NorthPark Mall | Monday – Friday | 11 am – 6 pm |
Bentonville | 1400 SE Walton Blvd. | Monday – Thursday Friday | 11 am – 6 pm 8 am – 2 pm |
Springdale | 3503 S. Thompson St. | Monday – Thursday Friday | 11 am – 6 pm 8 am – 2 pm |
Blood Drives | Locate a drive near you here. | ||
* Donor Center hours on Friday, February 16 only will be modified due to a new computer system implementation. CBCO’s Springfield Donor Center will be open from 7 am to 1 pm, with the remaining CBCO Donor Centers closed on that day.
Learn more about donating blood at cbco.org.
