KBC Calling on Healthy Donors to Step Up During Flu Season March 23, 2017

LEXINGTON, Ky. – Even though spring is here, the flu season is still hanging around, and Kentucky Blood Center is feeling the effects.

A number of blood drives have been cancelled because host sites – such as high schools and factories – have had too many sick students or employees to hold the drives. Donations in February and March are down 600 compared to the same time last year.

KBC is asking eligible donors to give blood soon to help maintain the community’s blood supply.

“Kentucky Blood Center is local and is the sole provider of blood for patients in Lexington and surrounding counties. With the flu season hanging on, we encourage anyone who is healthy and eligible to give blood soon,” said Martha Osborne, Vice President of Marketing for the blood center. “If you are a blood donor, please consider donating more often. It’s those regular blood donations that assure a strong blood supply all year for Kentucky patients.”

Donor centers are listed below, and mobile blood drive locations can be found at kybloodcenter.org.

KBC, founded nearly 50 years ago, 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.

All blood that is donated with KBC is returned to the Beaumont Donor Center where it is processed, prepared and stored for shipment to Kentucky hospitals.

Blood needs are ongoing. Red cells last only 42 days and must be continually replenished to adequately support Kentucky hospitals. Statistics show that one in seven hospital patients will require blood transfusions during their stay. However, only 37 percent of the population is eligible to donate blood and less than 10 percent does. All blood types are needed, and there is a particular need for type O negative blood since it is the “universal donor” and needed in emergencies when the patient’s blood type is unknown.

The blood already on the shelf is the blood used in an emergency. That’s why KBC is always encouraging people to donate blood.