Kentucky Blood Center is urging local lifesavers to roll up their sleeves and donate this week after the recent winter weather and cold temperatures negatively impacted blood collections entering the holiday weekend. The blood supply, which has been impacted throughout December by illness, has reached critical levels for many blood types, which is worrisome for the 70-plus hospitals served by KBC.
Transfusions at area hospitals have increased this month, which means more Kentuckians than normal need the gift of life that only comes from volunteer blood donors. KBC needs approximately 400 donors per day to supply its hospital partners. On average in December, the nonprofit is seeing only 240 donors daily.
KBC, the largest independent, full-service, nonprofit blood center in Kentucky, services more than 90 Kentucky counties from Pikeville to Paducah. Donors can help boost the blood supply this week by visiting one of KBC’s eight donors centers or any mobile blood drive.
Donors can schedule an appointment at kybloodcenter.orgor call 800.775.2522. Appointments are preferred, but walk-ins will be accepted as space allows.