Blood shortage looms as summer demand surges
JOPLIN, Mo. — We're in the midst of the '100 Deadliest Days of Summer' a time when the demand for a life-saving donation spikes – but the supply drops.
'Do something for my fellow man,' said Phyllis Petty, blood donor.
She says living in a volatile world makes her feel compelled to do something.
'You know, I feel like God blessed me with good health, and I might as well pass it on to someone else,' said Petty.
Donations like hers could end up at one of 43 hospitals served by the Community Blood Centers of the Ozarks, like Freeman Health System in Joplin, where it'll be used by someone like Dr. Brock Carney.
'Summer months are busier, because of trauma,' said Dr. Carney.
That's because:
'Accidents tend to happen in the summer.'
Dr. Carney says that at Freeman alone, they average about 540 units of blood.
'We see quite a bit of blunt trauma, mostly, car accidents, falls, but also gunshot wounds, stab wounds, any kind of trauma, really, can cause hemorrhagic shock.'
Meaning the need for a blood transfusion. Sometimes, they'll have to use what he calls a 'massive transfusion protocol.'
'Which means they need more than ten units of blood products in a 24-hour period,' said Dr. Carney.
But there's a problem.
'We collect 40% of blood donations from high school and college students,' said Michelle Teter, Community Blood Center of the Ozarks.
And during the '100 Deadliest Days' the time between Memorial Day and Labor Day when schools are out – demand for those donations spikes.
'So, it's kind of a little perfect storm that creates the problem,' said Teter.
The CBCO collects roughly 200 units of blood a day from 4 donor centers and 5 to 7 mobile blood drives.Each person can donate one unit of blood; that has a shelf life of 42 days.
'And a person can donate every 56 days. You see the gap there, so that's why it's a constant need,' said Teter.
A need that can become even more desperate in an emergency.
'Last month, one hospital alone used 200 units over a weekend.'
A blood donation takes about an hour and can save up to three lives. Something Phyllis knows firsthand.
'My husband sadly isn't with me anymore, but he required several donations, and maybe he got some of mine. We never know,' said Petty.
To help meet the summer demand CBCO runs several promotional campaigns like getting tickets to see the Springfield Cardinals in exchange for your donation.
You can make a donation at their Joplin facility at 2318 E 32nd Street.
You can learn more about their campaigns here.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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