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Slots still open for May blood drives on campus

The Nebraska Community Blood Bank, which serves Nebraska Medicine, is holding on-campus drives on May 4 and 6. The May 4 event is from 8 a.m.-1 p.m. from 8 a.m.-1 p.m. in a bloodmobile outside the Durham Research Center. The May 6 event is from 8 a.m.-noon in the Center for Healthy Living gym.

Oleg Bobr, MD, medical director of Blood Bank and Tissue Services at Nebraska Medicine, said NCBB is important to the med center community.

“NCBB is our local hospital and health system blood supplier, and most of the units collected will be transfused next door in the University Hospital,” Dr. Bobr said. “And due to COVID-19 disruption of blood collections the need in the blood is high, with our supplier regularly having days when the inventory of the blood products is half of what it should be. The hospital is operating at almost full capacity with all transplant surgeries and chemotherapy treatments occurring on schedule.

The Nebraska Community Blood Bank has an electronic scheduling system. Donors can schedule an appointment for the drive here. (Enter sponsor code NMRT for May 4 and MSC for May 6, or call 1-402-486-9414.) Appointments are requested, but walk-in donors will be accepted if scheduling allows. For assistance, contact Peter Pellerito at 402-559-5253 or via email.