Kentucky Blood Center in ‘urgent need’ of donations
Kentucky Health News
The Kentucky Blood Center (KBC) is in urgent need of blood donors, saying in an Aug. 9 news release that it is unable to currently meet hospital and patient needs.
The center said in the release that it is unable to fill hospital orders at 100% because of low blood levels exacerbated by high transfusion rates and poor donor turnout.
All blood types are needed, but O-type donors are “encouraged to take immediate action.” The center is in low supply of O+, O- and A-, which the release says are types that make up more than 50% of the population.
KBC VP of External Relations Mandy Brajuha said summer is always difficult on blood supply because of vacations and the inability to collect donations at schools and colleges.
“But this trauma season has been particularly tough,” she said in the release. “The recent uptick in transfusions after months of slumping donations is impacting our ability to meet patient demands. We want to make sure that when a hospital needs blood for its patients, they have it. The only way we can do that is for people in our community to donate blood.”
To give blood, donors must be over the age of 17, or 16 with parental consent, weigh at least 110 pounds and be in good health. A photo ID is also required.
KBC has locations across Central and Eastern Kentucky ready to receive donors this week. KBC has eight donor centers in six cities across Kentucky (Lexington, Louisville, Corbin, Frankfort, Pikeville and Somerset), and more than 20 public mobile drive opportunities are available this week.
Specific donor center hour locations are available at kybloodcenter.org/donate/donor-center-locations. Mobile drives open to the public can be found at kbc-donor.prod.forcytesp.com/.
Donors can visit those links, visit kybloodcenter.org or call 800.775.255 to schedule an appointment. Walk-ins are welcome.