Urgent Need for Local Blood Donations Jan. 8, 2020

LEXINGTON, Ky. – Kentucky Blood Center officials are appealing for blood donations in order to boost the blood supply, which has seen a recent slump. Several mobile blood drives canceled this week due to weather and other circumstances, while transfusions continue to remain steady at the more than 70 hospitals KBC supplies blood.

All blood types are needed but there is especially a need for O- donors to roll up their sleeves since O- blood can be safely transfused to all patients. Since the start of the new year, transfusions have outpaced donations by more than 600.

“We always see a decline in donations over the holidays, but this year the decline was particularly dramatic due to the timing of the holidays,” Martha Osborne, Vice President of Marketing said. “That slump, coupled with weather-related drive cancelations this week in Eastern Kentucky, has left us with blood shortages. We urge the public to to donate as soon as possible to help boost the blood supply.”

Kentucky Blood Center has six donor centers, including two in Lexington, two in Louisville and locations in Somerset and Pikeville. Donor center hours vary and can be found here: https://kybloodcenter.org/why-donate/donor-center-locations/. In addition, there are numerous community blood drives happening throughout the state over the next few weeks. Donors can get a complete list of mobile blood drives here: https://kybloodcenter.org/find-a-drive/.

Blood donors must be at least 17-years-old (16 with parental consent), weigh at least 110 pounds, be in general good health, show a photo I.D. and meet additional requirements. Sixteen-year-old donors must have a signed parental permission slip, which can be found at kybloodcenter.org.

Walk-ins are welcome. To schedule a donation, visit kybloodcenter.org or call 800.775.2522. 

Celebrating more than 50 years of saving lives in Kentucky, KBC is the largest independent, full-service, nonprofit blood center in Kentucky. Licensed by the FDA, KBC’s sole purpose is to collect, process and distribute blood for patients in Kentucky. KBC provides services in 90 Kentucky counties and has donor centers in Lexington, Louisville, Pikeville and Somerset.