Donors Needed After Tough Winter Spell March 9, 2015

LEXINGTON, Ky. – The recent historic snowstorm battered the blood supply as well as the Commonwealth last week.

Nineteen blood drives were cancelled Thursday and Friday, with more than 750 blood donations lost, according to Kentucky Blood Center officials. Since the storm that hit on President’s Day, KBC estimates a loss of nearly 2,000 total blood donations from blood drive cancelations and low donor turnout.

“With better weather predicted this week, we urge donors to visit one of our donor centers or blood drives to help rebuild the blood supply,” said Martha Osborne, KBC’s Executive Director of Marketing & Recruitment. “We’re celebrating the Wildcats' historic season throughout March so not only will each donor experience the joy of knowing they saved a life, they’ll also receive our limited edition 'My Blood Type is Wildcat Blue” T-shirt. Louisville fans can also show support for their team with a 'My Blood Type is Cardinal Red' shirt."

All blood types are needed, and there is a special need for type O-negative blood donors.

Blood donors must be 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. Sixteen-year-old donors must have a signed parental permission slip, which can be found at kybloodcenter.org.

KBC has five donor centers and daily blood drives. Donor centers are listed below, and blood drive locations can be found at kybloodcenter.org.

KBC, founded in 1968, is the largest independent, full-service, non-profit blood center in Kentucky. Licensed by the FDA, KBC’s sole purpose is to collect, process and distribute blood for patients in Kentucky hospitals.