Cottey to host blood drive Feb. 1

Community Blood Center, the provider of blood services to local hospitals, will conduct a blood drive at Cottey College on Tuesday, Feb. 1, in the lobby of the Haidee and Allen Wild Center for the Arts.

Community Blood Center is here to meet the needs of local patients, and individuals in Nevada can help meet the local needs by donating blood on Tuesday, February 1, from 3-7 p.m. in the Center for the Arts. To make an appointment online, go to www.savealifenow.org. Just one donation can help as many as two local hospital patients.

Winter storms have taken a toll on blood donations recently. As a result, Community Blood Center's blood supply has been drastically reduced and can only be replenished by the generosity of blood donors.

"The snow storms and cold weather have had a negative impact on the Community Blood Center's blood supply," states David Graham, vice president, donor and hospital services. "High school students alone account for nearly 15 percent of the total blood supply and with all of the school closings, many high school blood drives were canceled," Graham continued. "These cancellations along with business closures have meant a loss of at least 65 percent of blood that would have been collected at mobile blood drives." Although the CBC appreciates those donors who have walked in to donate blood in past drives, appointments are preferred and help with planning and staffing. Those with scheduled appointments will have a dedicated check-in, history, and beds, so it should be a faster experience for donors with appointments.

The Center for the Arts is on the northeast corner of Austin and Tower streets in Nevada, Mo.