Clark County blood drives to help fill need in 2020

The holiday and flu seasons, school breaks and winter weather create challenges for blood banks as they work to ensure there is a sufficient blood supply.

Mark Pompilio, public information officer for Dayton-based Community Blood Center and Community Tissue Center, which serves Clark and Champaign counties, and Cara Nicolas, associate public information officer for Hoxworth Blood Center in Cincinnati said there is a need for blood donations every day to maintain a sufficient inventory for hospitals throughout the region.

“From November to about mid-December, people were coming out to donate blood. Our blood supply was at 95 percent before Christmas,” Nicolas said. “Our supplies got hit over the weekend and there is a need for O-positive and A-negative blood.”

A unit of whole blood has a 42-day shelf life, while a unit of platelets has a five-day shelf life. One unit of whole blood can save up to three lives. Nicolas said blood is something that cannot be created in a lab which is why it’s important to donate regularly.

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Community Blood Center was started in 1964 to serve two Dayton hospitals. By 1967, CBC was serving 24 area hospitals in a 15-county area that includes 12 Ohio counties and three east central Indiana counties. It now serves 23 area hospitals. In 2019, CBC collected 68,209 units, up from 66,123 units in 2018.

“CBC is looking to maximize collections in 2020,” Pompilio said. “We have a need for about 250 blood donations a day.”

CBC is planning promotions as part of National Blood Donation Month that started this week. This is also the second annual Ohio Blood Donor Awareness month.

The blood center has several drives scheduled throughout Clark County in January.

CBC will also be harnessing the “Dayton Strong” movement from Saturday through Feb. 29, to inspire more blood donors and blood drive sponsors by offering a white, long-sleeve T-shirt with red “Donor Strong” lettering is a gift to everyone who registers, including those in Clark and Champaign counties. Pompilio said CBC received more than 1,700 blood donations after the Oregon District shootings in August.

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in observance of New Year’s Day, but donor centers and blood drives will be open on Thursday.

CBC donors can make an appointment online at www.DonorTime.com or call (937) 461-3220.

Upcoming Community Blood Center blood drives

Jan. 2 from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at Springfield Regional Medical Center, 100 Medical Center Drive in Springfield

Jan. 6 from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Urbana Church of Christ in Christian Union, 1121 N. Main St. in Urbana

Jan. 11 from 7:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. at Plattsburg United Church of Christ, 1715 S. Urbana Lisbon Road in South Charleston

Jan. 13 from 12:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. at Maiden Lane Church of God, 1201 Maiden Lane in Springfield

Jan. 20 from 1 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Father Paul Vieson Center, 205 W. Lake Ave. in New Carlilse

Jan. 28 from 12:30 p.m. at 6:30 p.m. at First Christian Church,. 3638 Middle Urbana Road in Springfield

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About the Author

Ed Richter

Ed Richter has been a working journalist for 38 years, with the last 34 years working in various capacities covering Butler and Warren counties as a reporter and an editor. Richter covers local news and governments in Warren County focusing on Springboro, Lebanon, Franklin, Carlisle and Waynesville.