Blood Assurance has reached critically low levels for almost all blood types, with zero units of O-positive blood on the shelf.
Donor Recruiter Trudy Cody said she is encouraging all residents to participate in local blood drives to build the supply.
“We need all types of blood, but we especially need the O negative and O positive blood types,” Cody said. “Those are the ones that are universal, so we are in a very critical situation.”
Blood Assurance supplies Cookeville Regional and the majority of other middle Tennessee hospitals with blood.
“The hospitals just don’t have the supply,” Trudy said. “They are having to put off elective surgeries in order to get this blood to them. And, we don’t want to be in that situation ever.”
Cody said with tornado season active and COVID still present, the need for donors is high. The Cookeville Blood Assurance Center is opened extended hours Friday and Saturday from 7:30-4:00.
“It’s here at 155 West Broad Street right across from the train depot,” Cody said. “Starting tomorrow, Blood Assurance is giving a 50 dollar Academy Sports gift card every hour to donors.”
From 10-2 on Sunday, there will be a community blood drive at Cookeville’s Life Church. Monday will also have a drive at the Cookeville Wal-Mart from 10-2. The gift card giveaway applies to these community drives, also.
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