Community Blood Center Issues Urgent Call for Donations Amid Critical O- and Platelet Shortage Ahead of Summer Trauma Season
Community urged to donate as hospitals brace for a rise in emergencies and declining blood donations
KANSAS CITY, MO – Community Blood Center (CBC) is urging all eligible blood donors to make an appointment ahead of Memorial Day Weekend. The need is especially critical for O-negative blood and platelets – lifesaving components that are in dangerously short supply.
The summer months pose a serious threat to the stability of the blood supply. As schools let out and families head into vacation mode, donations typically drop, just as trauma cases, accidents, and emergency room visits rise. This period, often referred to as “trauma season,” brings a spike in demand for blood, with nearly one in four trauma patients requiring a transfusion. Due to declining donations, hospitals may soon be forced to operate with dangerously low levels of O-negative blood, the universal blood type used in traumas and emergency care.
“Memorial Day Weekend marks the unofficial start of summer for many, but for Community Blood Center, it signals the beginning of a critical period for the blood supply,” said Chelsey Smith, Director of Public Relations at Community Blood Center. “We’re calling on all eligible blood donors, especially type O-negative and platelet donors, to show up for their neighbors this summer by making an appointment to donate blood as we enter trauma season.”
To thank donors for their lifesaving gift, CBC will be giving away branded wet/dry bags to all who donate between May 21 and May 28, 2025.
CBC is also calling on area businesses, schools, religious groups, and community organizations to host blood drives this summer to help meet rising hospital demand. Blood donors can give every 56 days, and platelet donors can give twice per month. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently lifted several blood donor eligibility restrictions.
To view current eligibility guidelines or make an appointment, visit savealifenow.org or call 877.468.6844.