photo by: LMH Health

LMH Health, 325 Maine St., is pictured in May 2021.

For the fourth time this year, LMH Health’s blood supplier has announced a shortage of blood donations.

The Community Blood Center of Greater Kansas City, which provides more than 90% of the blood used by more than 60 area hospitals including LMH Health, announced a blood emergency in a press release Wednesday afternoon. Just two months ago, the Community Blood Center made a similar announcement.

As of today, the region’s blood supply is at a one- to two-day level. According to the release, the center hasn’t had its ideal five- to seven-day blood supply in more than two and a half years. That’s attributed, in part, to a lack of first-time donors. According to the release, the Community Blood Center is on pace to end the year with about 9,000 fewer first-time donors than the more than 20,000 who donated in 2019.

“As older generations age out of the donor pool and become ineligible to donate, they are not being replaced by donors from younger generations, creating a significant challenge in our ability to meet hospital need,” the release states.

The center is asking the community — especially young and first-time donors or former blood donors who haven’t given in a while — to step up and ease the burden. Or, for those who can’t donate, the center is asking for help in spreading the word about the shortage and the need for local blood donors. To further encourage donations, the center is offering gift cards to all donors through the end of the month and running several sweepstakes drawings for Kansas City Chiefs tickets.

A mobile drive in Lawrence is set for Friday, Nov. 4, from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at LMH Health, 325 Maine St. To schedule an appointment, call 877-468-6844 or visit savealifenow.org.