KBC Donors Answer the Call to Help Recent Winter Disruptions, but More Donors Needed
LEXINGTON, Ky. – Kentucky Blood Center needs a strong weeklong turnout for Big Blue Slam after last week’s weather disruptions. If day one is any indication, Big Blue Nation is up to the task.
Kentucky took an early lead in the annual blood battle vs. Florida fans and LifeSouth Community Blood Center with 284 donations. Florida totaled 251 on Monday.
The five-day long competition to stock the blood shelves during the difficult winter months is just getting started.
“Big Blue Slam is always an important event for us, but this year’s blood battle can make an immediate and positive impact on the blood supply with the current hole we are in,” said Mandy Brajuha, VP of external relations at KBC. “With more than 20 mobile weather-related mobile drive cancellations and an estimated 700-plus appointments lost between our mobiles and donor centers, we need Kentucky fans to step up this week and give the blood supply a much-needed boost. Monday was a great start, but we’ll need five straight days of great turnouts to get the blood supply back to where it needs to be.”
Entering the day, KBC was in critical need of O-, A-, B+ and AB+, meaning the local nonprofit had less than a day’s supply of each blood type for its 70-plus hospitals. Ideally, KBC would have a three- to four-day supply of each blood type to ensure blood is available for all local patients no matter what the need is.
Every donation this week is critical for local hospitals, which need bleed every day for traumas, diseases like cancer and sickle cell, surgeries, organ transplants, and so much more. One in four people will need a blood transfusion in their lifetime.
KBC’s eight donor centers (Lexington, Louisville, Corbin, Frankfort, Pikeville and Somerset) are open the rest of the from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. through Friday. Mobile drives are also open to the public in various locations across the state.
Donors can view donation options and make their appointment by visiting bit.ly/KBC_BigBlueSlam24 or by calling 800.775.2522. All donors will receive the latest edition of the always-popular Big Blue Slam T-shirt, plus entry to win two tickets to the UK-Florida men’s basketball game on Jan. 31 in Rupp Arena. Appointments are highly encouraged during Big Blue Slam. Walk-ins will be accepted as space allows.
Kentucky leads the series with Florida 9-6, including three straight victories.
Blood donors must be at least 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.
