Blood donors needed in Eastern Iowa to replenish declining supply

Regional blood centers are working hard — and in creative ways — to replenish their stock as summer, combined with new concerns and regulations, has brought about a steep decline in donations.

The Mississippi Valley Regional Blood Center has seen a nearly 15 percent decrease in donations since Memorial Day, said Tim Nash, a donor relations consultant in Cedar Rapids.

The Davenport-based blood bank, which has multiple donation centers in Cedar Rapids, supplies more than 23,300 gallons of blood to 88 hospitals in Iowa, Illinois and Missouri, including UnityPoint Health-St. Luke's Hospital, Mercy Medical Center in Cedar Rapids and Mercy Iowa City.

It also provides supplemental donations to the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics.

'That need remains constant,' Nash said. 'People often think blood is only needed in an emergency situation — and that does happen. But transfusions are so common, they're used in surgeries (and) for those getting cancer treatment.'

A summer slump is not unusual — people are on vacation and school is out, so there are fewer blood drives and lower attendance. But there are additional concerns for the blood center this summer, including the Zika virus and new Federal Drug Administration iron guidelines for donors, Nash said.

Any individual who has visited a location for which the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has issued a Zika travel notice — the Caribbean, Central America, South America, the Pacific islands and Mexico — must wait 28 days before donating.

What's more — to safely donate — hemoglobin levels must be above 12.5 grams per deciliter for women and 13 grams for men. The level for men was increased in May, Nash said.

These two factors have lead to an increase in the number of deferrals, he added.

In an effort to find new donors, the blood center is hosting its first-ever blood drive during the Freedom Festival outside of NewBo City Market from 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Saturday.

It is also giving away a car and $300 worth of gas cards this summer to entice donors. Anyone who registers to donate in the month of July is being entered to win a $100 gas card, while those who register through Sept. 30 are being entered to win a Ford Fiesta.

All donors receive a T-shirt and $5 Starbuck gift card.

Rick Roseneck, external communications manager for blood collections at the American Red Cross, reports a similar story for his organization.

'The weeks before and after July 4, people are especially busy,' he said. 'Fewer donations have been coming in the past few months. Blood is really going out faster than we're collecting it.'

Roseneck said the organization, which supplies blood to more than 2,000 hospitals across the country, pushes to put on large blood drives in the summer to fill those gaps. The organization also plans to issue a national appeal for blood on Tuesday to help boost supplies.

Officials with both the Red Cross and Mississippi Valley Regional Blood Center said all blood types are needed this time of year. Mississippi Valley said but it would especially love to see any Rh-negative donors — O negative, A negative, B negative and AB negative.

In general, donors must be at least 17 years old, weight at least 110 pounds and be in good general health, according to the Red Cross.

Blood donation sites Here is a look at Mississippi Valley Regional Blood Center donation sites in Linn and Johnson counties:  

Cedar Rapids West Donor Center, 3001 Williams Boulevard SW; 319-362-0089; Open 1-6 p.m. Monday, Wednesday and Thursday, 7-11 a.m. Friday and 7-11 a.m. on alternating Saturdays.

Lindale Crossing Donor Center, 4828 1st Ave. NE, Cedar Rapids; 319-377-4355; Open 12:30-6:30 p.m. Monday and Tuesday, 7-11:30 a.m. on alternating Fridays and 7-11:30 a.m. Saturdays.

Marion Routine Site at Lowe Park Education Center, 4500 10th St., Marion; Open third Tuesday of each month from 2-6 p.m. in odd months and 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. in even months.

Iowa City Area Donor Center, 1801 2nd St., Coralville; 319-358-7750; Open 1-7 p.m. Monday, Wednesday and Thursday and 7-11:30 a.m. every other Saturday.