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Younger Blood Donors Sought to Boost Supply
['Brian Wilson']
KLGAZ
The leader of the organization supplying blood to 80% of Iowa hospitals says there’s been a 30 percent decline in people under the age of 30 donating blood since 2020 — and that’s a major challenge in maintaining an adequate supply.
Stacy Sime, CEO of LifeServe Blood Center — says they have about a two-to-three day supply of blood on hand today — and that’s under the five-day supply that’s their target.
Sime says blood drives in high schools last year generated 15-thousand units of blood for LifeServe.
The demand for blood often rises in the summer due to an increase in accidents, just as donations drop due to a variety of factors — including the break in blood drives conducted in schools.
Sime says her organization is supplying blood to ambulance services in Des Moines and West Des Moines.