Amid the ongoing challenges of recruiting blood donors during the COVID-19 pandemic, local nonprofit Nebraska Community Blood Bank is facing a shortage of blood and platelet donations.
The need for blood is constant, but due to the pandemic, many drives have been canceled or postponed. To replenish supplies for the Northland’s hospitals, trauma centers, and air ambulance bases, more healthy donors are needed at blood drives and donor centers in the coming weeks. Appointments can be made online at NCBB.ORG or by calling 1-877-486-9414.
Before COVID-19, donors could stop by community blood drives at convenient locations like high schools, colleges, offices, and places of worship. It has been nearly one year since these groups had to cancel their blood drives due to COVID-19, and fewer than 50% have been able to resume these life-saving events. Despite this tremendous decrease in blood drives and blood donations, patients in community hospitals continue to need transfusions.
A small number of community blood drives have resumed with enhanced precautions, and NCBB is strongly encouraging donors to make appointments to visit a blood drive or donor center.
“It’s been a year since we began implementing significant safety protocols at our donor centers. We have extended those safety measures at the community blood drives that have been able to restart,” said Kathy Geist, Senior Executive Director, Nebraska Community Blood Bank.
Blood donation is safe and essential, and MBC has a COVID-19 self-screening policy in addition to general eligibility guidelines. In general, you may be eligible to donate if you are:
- In good health
- 17 years or older— or 16 with written parental consent (PDF available on NCBB.ORG)
- At least 110 pounds
- Free of antibiotics for 24 hours, unless taken for preventative reasons
- Symptom-free for at least 72 hours following a cold or flu
Visit NCBB.ORG to find your nearest drive or donor center, or to make an appointment at one of the public blood drives below.
| Date | Sponsor | Location | City | Time |
| 04/17/21 | Waverly Healthcare | 13320 Callum Drive | Waverly | 8:00 am – 1:00 pm |
| 04/21/21 | Seward Community | 1625 Fairgrounds Circle | Seward | 10:00 am – 6:00 pm |
| 04/21/21 | St. Mark’s United Methodist Church | 8550 Pioneers Blvd | Lincoln | 1:00 pm – 6:00 pm |
| 04/28/21 | Waverly High School | 13401 Amberly Road | Waverly | 8:00 am – 12:00 pm |
| 04/30/21 | Cattle Bank & Trust | 104 S. 5th St | Seward | 8:00 am – 1:00 pm |