Kentucky Blood Center Issues Emergency Appeal
LEXINGTON, Ky. – Kentucky Blood Center officials today said the blood shortage they reported Monday has become critical. Transfusions at hospitals have not slowed, while donations continued to plummet.
“We’re not restocking the shelves as fast as we need,” said Bill Reed, KBC president and CEO. “The blood donor center is open, regardless of the weather. We encourage those who are able to come to donate blood immediately.”
Reed said the blood center’s red blood cell supply is down by 650 units – at least two day’s worth of donations. Only 112 units were donated on Monday in the 62 counties served by the blood center, while more than 200 units of blood were transfused at the hospitals it serves.
On Monday, KBC issued an emergency appeal for blood donors due to the swift decline in donations and the winter storm that is exacerbating the crisis.
More information is available at www.kybloodcenter.org. Appointments can be made online or by calling 800-775-2522. Walk-in donors are welcome. The Kentucky Blood Center is a non-profit organization dedicated to ensuring a safe, adequate blood supply for patients at nearly 70 Kentucky hospitals and clinics in more than 60 counties.