KBC Offering Movie Tickets for Donors This Holiday Season Dec. 16, 2015

Kentucky Blood Donors Can Be Holiday Heroes

Tickets in a box of popcorn.

LEXINGTON, Ky. – The holiday season is a critical time for Kentucky Blood Center as blood donations typically decline due to travel and other holiday activities that keep many regular donors away. The need for blood doesn’t take a vacation, though, because cancer treatments, premature births, car accidents, blood diseases and surgeries continue. 

To help encourage blood donation and prevent a holiday blood shortage, Kentucky Blood Center is offering donors two movie passes when they give blood Dec. 19–31 at any KBC donor center. 

“While most of us are thinking holidays, parties and fun family activities, Kentucky patients are depending on blood donors. We hope everyone who is eligible to give the gift of life in the next two weeks will do so and be a holiday hero to a Kentucky patient,” said Martha Osborne, KBC’s Executive Director of Marketing & Recruitment. 

Walk-ins are welcome, but donors may schedule appointments or get more information by calling 800.775-2522 or visiting kybloodcenter.org. 

KBC’s five donor centers will be open special hours – 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. – on Christmas and New Year’s Eve. They will be closed Christmas and New Year’s Day. 

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. 

About Kentucky Blood Center

Kentucky Blood Center, 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.

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.