DAYTON — Even as COVID-19 restrictions continue to ease, not everything is getting back to normal, particularly when it comes to the need for blood donors.
News Center 7′s Candace Prices worked to find out that not much has changed since the early days of the pandemic. Officials at the Community Blood Center in Dayton say the blood supply is dangerously low.
Mark Pompilio, Marketing Manager of Community Blood Center said, “it’s the most severe we’ve seen since the early days of COVID.”
Pompilio said they are still seeing residual effects of previous limitations on blood drives.
“We’re taking that into summer when we have so many traditional challenges to the blood supply and the combination is really hurting us,” he said.
Traditional challenges include people who are headed out of town on vacation.
“When we’re into summer or around holiday time, we’re in that same mode where the mobile blood drivers are not doing as well,” Pompilio said,
One of the donors at the center said it’s been 10 years since he last gave blood and for him, timing has been an issue.
Nathan McFadden said, “You always think that you want to donate and you don’t know if you have enough time or it’s not convenient.”
On Friday, a blood drive at the center kicks off at 7 a.m. and runs until 4 p.m.
Pompilio said, “We’ll have the Kona Ice truck here as a benefit for donors and giving away a Speedway $10 gift card to everyone who registers to donate, plus a T-shirt.”
The goal for Friday’s blood drive is about 225 donors. They are taking appointments but walk-ins are welcome.