DES MOINES – LifeServe Blood Center, along with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and other national partners, is urging blood donors to turn out in force to give blood. Across the blood industry, nearly 4,000 blood drives have been cancelled, resulting in some 130,000 fewer blood donations due to concerns regarding COVID-19. Around 500 of those lost donations come from LifeServe Blood Center’s drive cancellations from Iowa, Nebraska, and South Dakota.
“It is safe to donate blood,” said Admiral Brett P. Giroir, M.D., Assistant Secretary for Health. “Part of preparedness includes a robust blood supply. Healthy individuals should schedule an appointment to donate today to ensure that blood is available for those patients who need it.”
There is no substitute for blood and certain hospital patients – those battling cancer, trauma victims, premature babies, mothers during or after delivery – cannot reschedule their need for a lifesaving transfusion.
“Our ability to have a safe and available blood supply is directly related to generous community members continuing to visit our blood drives and donor centers,” said Stacy Sime, LifeServe Blood Center President and CEO. “We believe our blood drives and donor centers are safe places to visit thanks to our regular disinfecting and cleaning, as well as our implementation of social distancing recommendations and additional blood donor screening questions.”
To help recoup blood donations lost as blood drives at schools and businesses cancel in the wake of the COVID-19 outbreak, LifeServe Blood Center is expanding certain donor center hours.
Des Moines Donor Center Extended Hours
Wednesday, March 18: 9 a.m. - 7 p.m.
Sunday, March 22: 8 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Sunday, March 29: 8 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Fort Dodge Donor Center Extended Hours
Wednesday, March 18: 9 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Wednesday, March 25: 9 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Wednesday, April 1: 9 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Marshalltown Donor Center Extended Hours
Friday, March 20: 8 a.m. - 1 p.m.
Mason City Donor Center Extended Hours
Tuesday, March 17: 9 a.m.– 6 p.m.
Tuesday, March 24: 9 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Tuesday, March 31: 9 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Sioux City Donor Center Extended Hours
Saturday, March 21: 7 a.m. - 3 p.m.
Saturday, March 28 7 a.m. - 3 p.m.
Urbandale Donor Center Extended Hours
Thursday, March 19: 9 a.m. – 7 p.m.
Sunday, March 22: 8 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Sunday, March 29: 8 a.m. -1 p.m.
LifeServe is urging healthy, eligible blood donors to book an appointment to ensure appropriate donor flow and social distancing standards can be maintained. Appointments can be made by calling call 800-287-4903 or visiting lifeservebloodcenter.org.