Right now is a crucial time to donate blood in Iowa

Iowa has a “severe blood shortage” and more donors are needed to meet demand.

If you’re among the people who stopped giving regular blood donations during the pandemic, now would be a good time to get back in the rotation at your local blood center.

While many normal activities have resumed, blood donations in Eastern Iowa have not returned to their pre-pandemic levels. With hospitals working through a backlog of care that was deferred during the height of the pandemic, it’s a crucial time for Iowans to roll up our sleeves and bolster the blood supply.

When their blood supplies dip to dangerously low levels, managers at local blood centers sound the alarm and put out calls for donors. They say they get strong community responses each time they do, but it would be better if they had a sustainable stream of returning donors.

ImpactLife, formerly known as Mississippi Valley Regional Blood Center, supplies blood to more than 100 hospitals in Iowa and neighboring states. The organization needs to collect 3,600 donations per week to keep its supply stocked, but leaders project they’ll fall as much as 1,000 weekly donations short of that goal late this summer, The Gazette’s Michaela Ramm reported.

Blood centers will have to “perform above projection” to meet the need, representatives say. They have an urgent need for all blood types. Healthy Iowans should help them rise to the challenge.

Donors in Eastern Iowa can contact area blood centers for information about donating at their facilities, and finding or hosting a blood drive:

Even though there is a concerning uptick in coronavirus cases the past few weeks in Iowa, blood donations are vital to keep the health care system functioning. Donors should be confident local donation sites are taking the necessary steps to reduce the risk of viral spread in their facilities.

Donating blood does not pose any special COVID risks compared to other activities. Of course, if you haven’t done so already, you should get vaccinated against COVID-19, whether you plan to donate blood or not.

(319) 308-8262; editorial@thegazette.com