Officials with the Kentucky Blood Center report there is an extreme need for blood donations in the state. There is a critical shortage of O- blood, meaning they currently have less than half a day supply for the more than 70 hospitals.
Eric Lindsey, Director of Media and Branding with the KBC, said all blood types are needed, not just those with critical shortages.
“Even if you’re not O-, we are getting ready to head into the summer months, which is always a difficult time on our calendar. Donation frequency historically drops during that time of the year. So, we are asking donors of all blood types to be intentional, to be proactive and to schedule an appointment in the upcoming weeks to get ahead of that hurdle,” said Lindsey.
Lindsey said that due to severe weather, they weren’t able to have all the donation drives that they had planned over the winter. This resulted in lower than expected blood supply, making it challenging to keep up with demand.
“We try to stay open as often as we can, but obviously when there’s hazardous conditions outside and state officials are telling you to stay off the roads, it leads to lower donor turnout. So, we had a difficult winter in that regard. One of the more difficult ones we’ve had in recent memory, and so it put us in a hole that we are even now, entering May, still trying to dig out of,” said Lindsey.
He said everyone is welcome and encouraged to donate blood, so long as they meet donation requirements. Prospective donors must be 17 years old or 16 with parental consent, weigh at least 110 pounds, and be in good general health.
There will be two upcoming drives in Morehead. One will be on Tuesday, May 6 at UK Saint Claire from 8 a.m. to 1:30, and the other will be Thursday, May 8 at the Morehead Walmart from 1 to 6 p.m. Walk ins are accepted but appointments are preferred.