BLOOD SUPPLY EMERGENCY

Community Blood Center of the Ozarks is in emergency need of O+, O-, A- blood types. The community blood inventory is currently less than a one-day supply, and we need your help to ensure local patients have the blood they need.

CBCO is the sole, non-profit blood provider for local hospitals in the Ozarks, which means this critical emergency is impacting local hospitals and local patients. But we can’t do it alone. We rely on the support of generous blood donors in the communities we serve to ensure a strong blood supply.

Area hospitals and patients need you TODAY! Click below to find a convenient mobile blood drive in the near future, a CBCO donation center near you, or call for assistance to find the best donation opportunity and to make your appointment near you and SAVE A LIFE!

If you donate today, June 30th, donors will receive our Bleed Red donor rewards.

If you donate in July, donors will receive our Splash donor rewards.

Why Is There a Blood Supply Shortage?

There are several factors that cause a LOCAL blood supply emergency:

• Blood donors giving with organizations that DO NOT supply blood to their community’s hospital. Not sure who provides blood to your local hospital? Call your hospital and ask who provides their blood. Just because you see a blood drive happening in your community or a donor center in your area doesn’t mean that organization supplies blood to your community.
  
• Certain timeframes are more challenging when it comes to blood donations. During summer months, some of our largest donor groups, schools and colleges, are unable to host drives. Plus, many people travel on vacation and are out of their “regular” routine with summer activities. This results in lower blood supplies during summer and holidays.
  
• Increased blood usage in our hospitals. Over the last three months, CBCO has seen the highest sustained blood usage since 2021. Higher blood usage leading into months where it’s harder to get donors has resulted in critically low levels of blood available for hospital patients recovering from acute trauma, surgeries, or those that need consistent blood transfusions, like cancer patients.

CBCO Is the ONLY Blood Supplier to Local Hospitals

We are the only blood supplier to hospitals across the Ozarks region, including Southwest Missouri, Northwest Arkansas and Southeast Kansas. That means when you choose to donate with CBCO, you’re choosing to support patients and hospitals in your area. 

Giving with CBCO is giving life to your community and ensuring a safe, strong blood supply for your friends, family and neighbors.

Donate Blood Today and Save Lives in Your Community

Whether you’re a regular donor, or you’ve never donated before, we need your help now. If you have questions about eligibility, call 417-227-5006. If you would like to make an appointment, click here or call 417-227-5006. Thank you for supporting your local blood provider, hospitals, and patients!