Donation centers need blood donors across KC

The need for people to donate blood is everywhere, including in Kansas City.

HEALTH CARE SYSTEMCONTINUES.AS 41 ACTION NEWSREPORTER JORDAN BETTSSHOWS US -- FEAR OF THEVIRUS IS DEPLETING AVITAL RESOURCE.Randee Krumwiede, ExecutiveDirector at American Red Cross"But in the midst of theCoronavirus, we have hadthousands upon thousands ofblood drives that havecancelled since thecoronavirus.

This is impactingour blood supply."GETTING PEOPLE TODONATE BLOOD IS A REALISSUE RIGHT NOW.DONATION CENTERSACROSS THE METRO ARESEEING A DECREASE INPEOPLE GIVING.Randee Krumwiede, ExecutiveDirector at American Red Cross"One of the things thatconcerns us is that blood hasa shelf life.

There is aconstant need for blood andthat never goes away."WHAT IS STOPPINGPEOPLE From GIVIng...THEFEAR OF GETTING THEVIRUS.THE AMERICAN RED CROSSIS ASSURING PEOPLE IT ISSAFE TO DONATE.Randee Krumwiede, ExecutiveDirector at American Red Cross"Temperature checks at thefront of the blood drive, all ofour staff will be wearingmasks, social distancing whenappropriate and spacing bedsapart."THEyre even providing YOUAN INCENTIVE TO DonateBLOOD.Randee Krumwiede, ExecutiveDirector at American Red Cross"As of June 15th, theAmerican Red Cross is nowtesting all blood products forthe COVID-19 antibodies."THE LACK OF DONATING ISConCerning for HOSPITALS.Dr. Gagan Mathur, Saint Luke'sTransfusion Services MedicalDirector"But, the elective surgeryvolumes are going up and thecollection on the donor side isstill catching up.

So the bloodsupply is low but we have notseen any critical shortagesyet.

But, the collections aregoing down."DOCTORS WORRY WHATWILL HAPPEN TO PATIENTSIF THERE CONTINUES TOBE A LOW TURN OUT.Dr. Gagan Mathur, Saint Luke'sTransfusion Services MedicalDirector"If the blood supply goesdown, we might have troubletaking care of these patients.So, elective surgeries whichrequire blood transfusionsthey might need to becancelled if our blood supplycan't support those surgicalvolumes."And you can roll up yoursleeve on early as Tuesday asst Luke's is holding a blooddrive to help bring some hopeto blood centers"Randee Krumwiede, ExecutiveDirector at American Red Cross"The need for blood is urgentand we are encouragingdonors for the KC area to rollup their sleeve and donate."IN Kansas City JORDANBETTS 41 ACTION NEWS