The Kentucky Blood Center is sounding the alarm and urgently seeking donors since the critical blood shortage has left the organization unable to fully meet local hospital orders.
Kentucky Blood Center supplies blood to more than 70 hospitals across Central and Eastern Kentucky. The organization has reported a dangerous mismatch between supply and demand.
Over the last week, blood transfusions at local hospitals spiked by 40%, and donation numbers have continued to nosedive for a second consecutive year.
The shortage is particularly severe for blood types: O+ positive, O- negative, and A- negative. These groups represent more than 50% of the general population.
O- negative is the universal blood type and can be safely transfused to anyone with an emergency, and O+ positive is the most common. Donors of these types are especially asked to take immediate action.
Kentucky Blood Center operates eight donor centers across six Kentucky cities, and has more than 20 public mobile drives scheduled this week.
Kentucky Blood Center Donor Centers:
Lexington: Beaumont (3121 Beaumont Centre Cir.) & Andover (3130 Maple Leaf Dr.)
Louisville: Middletown (14002 Shelbyville Rd.) & Hillview (5406 Antle Dr.)
Corbin (Tri-County): 1466 W. Cumberland Gap Pkwy.
Frankfort: 363 Versailles Rd.
Pikeville: 472 S. Mayo Trl.
Somerset: 10 Stonegate Centre
For anyone interested in donating, whole blood donations typically take less than an hour from registration to recovery time.
Eligible donors must be at least 17 years old (or 16 with parental consent), weigh at least 110 pounds, be in good health, and bring a photo ID.
While walk-ins are welcome, donors are encouraged to schedule an appointment by calling 1-800-775-2522 or by visiting kybloodcenter.org.
Source: WAVE
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