The Community Blood Center of the Carolinas says it’s experiencing a regional blood shortage and is asking the public to donate blood as soon as possible.
The Charlotte-based nonprofit is the primary blood supplier to 21 regional hospitals, including Carolinas Medical Center-NorthEast in Concord. It does not serve Novant hospitals such as Rowan’s.
“Summer is a particularly difficult time for all blood centers because supply drops and demand often goes up,” Martin Grable, president and CEO of the Community Blood Center of the Carolinas, said in a news release. “Our local community is nearing a critical level and we urge all eligible donors to donate blood today.”
The organization plans blood drives throughout July, including 11 in Rowan and Cabarrus counties.
According to the nonprofit, treatment of cancer and cardiovascular disease continue as usual, while trauma often increases during the summer months, pushing demand up.