Blood Donors Needed After Recent Winter Weather Impact

KBC lost more than 800 donations last week due to cancellations

 

 Kentucky Blood Center is urging local lifesavers to roll up their sleeves and donate this week after recent winter weather negatively impacted blood collections. The blood supply, which was already impacted after the collections lull of the holiday season, has reached low levels for many blood types.

   Between mobile drive cancellations, shortened collection hours and low donor turnout, KBC estimates it lost close to 800 donations last week. One donation can impact up to three lives.

    “We need donors to step up and help us dig out of a hole,” said Mandy Brajuha, vice president of external relations for KBC. “With a break in the weather and several blood types at less than a day’s supply, we hope donors will act and visit a nearby location in the coming days so we are prepared when the next bout of winter weather hits the Bluegrass.”

   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 for donors in Central and Eastern Kentucky. Donor centers are typically open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturdays from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Specific donor center hour locations are available below and at kybloodcenter.org/donate/donor-center-locations. Mobile drives open to the public can be found at my.kybloodcenter.org/donor/schedules/county.

    All donors will be thanked with a limited-edition KBC sweatshirt. Monday only, donors will also receive a $10 Walmart gift card at donor centers.

   Whole blood donations take less than an hour from registration to refreshment. All donations stay in Kentucky to serve patients who need blood for everything from trauma, cancer, diseases, surgeries, organ transplants and more.

   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. Appointments are preferred but walk-ins are welcome.