The Community Blood Center of the Carolinas (CBCC) is urging the public to be proactive to ensure there is enough blood available for local patients and to prevent a summer blood shortage.

Ensuring an adequate local blood supply depends on the combined efforts of CBCC, blood drive sponsors and donors. This summer there is an increased concern that blood donations won’t meet the everyday and sometimes unexpected needs of local patients.

“The tragic events of the last few days have put a spotlight on the importance of blood in responding to the needs of a community. We never know what tomorrow will bring, so it is important to act today to ensure blood is available at all times,” said Martin Grable, president and CEO of CBCC. “Both locally and nationally, we are facing declining blood donations that, even this summer, leave us concerned about the ability to meet the ongoing blood needs of local patients.”

The Community Blood Center of the Carolinas has an immediate need for businesses, faith-based organizations and other groups to host a blood drive between July 1-8 and throughout the rest of July or August and for donors to give during that time.

Adds Grable, “Our local hospitals and patients rely on the support of our community. Working together, we can ensure local patient needs are met. Please help us build our community’s blood supply over the summer months.”

To host a blood drive or to make an appointment at any center or mobile drive, visit www.cbcc.us or call 704-972-4700.

About Community Blood Center of the Carolinas

The Community Blood Center of the Carolinas (CBCC) is a non-profit community-based blood center and the primary blood supplier to 27 regional hospitals, serving 20 North Carolina and three South Carolina counties. CBCC focuses exclusively on gathering red blood cells, platelets and plasma from volunteer donors to save local lives here in the Carolinas. Every drop stays here, saving local lives. CBCC is a member of America’s Blood Centers, North America’s largest network of community-based, independent blood centers providing more than 50% of the nation’s blood supply.

For more information on hosting a blood drive or donating blood in your area, visit www.cbcc.us or call 704-972-4700.

Follow the Community Blood Center of the Carolinas on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/BloodCenter, on Instagram https://instagram.com/cbccarolinas/ and on Twitter at www.twitter.com/CBCCarolinas.