TBC in the news

It’s the season of giving and one local community blood center is encouraging people to give the gift of blood.

As the nation’s health care systems collectively catch their breath after surviving the worst blood shortage in 30 years, blood banks in South Carolina are still on edge because the holiday season could be the start of yet another shortage.

In fear of another blood shortage crisis, three local blood centers are urging people to donate during the holiday season.

The Blood Connection (TBC) held a two-week campaign in the beginning of September for all blood drive hosts and donors.

“Right now we are not in a shortage situation. Things got pretty difficult early in January and we’ve slowly and slowly kind of crawled our way out of that where we’re not in a blood shortage. I will say we’re in a blood donor shortage,” explained Smithson.

Expanding its commitment to saving lives in local communities and beyond, The Blood Connection (TBC) is now giving blood donors the chance to lower CO2 emissions, create jobs in Africa and empower women — all while donating blood with their community blood center.

People in Western North Carolina can help support those impacted by Hurricane Ian. Right now, The Blood Connection is asking for donations because it's trying to replenish its supply.

The goal of the initiative is to have supervisors with Emergency Medical Services carry whole blood in the back of their vehicle, so they can administer it at the scene of an accident rather than having the patient wait until they get to a hospital.

The COVID-19 pandemic changed many things in life: relationships, work, and priorities. Unfortunately, how people spend their time changed as well and blood donation fell off many priority lists.