Plasma centers are asking the public to donate

BOWLING GREEN, Ky. – Blood and plasma centers around the country are running low on donations and BPL Plasma in Bowling Green is asking the public to donate.

Plasma is the water, antibodies, protein and iron inside of your blood.

It is used to treat many different kinds of things including burns, dog bites, and to make certain vaccines.

Lately, the plasma center has seen donations plummet from what once was around 200 per day to around 80 per day.

Samantha Roach, with BPL Plasma says it usually takes about six months for donated plasma to get ready to be used, so six months from now, a shortage could be a problem nationwide.

“It’s a really, really, really, like really, high number that we’re missing out on honestly and people don’t want to come out and donate. People are staying home. They’re getting the money from the government or unemployment or they don’t want to come out because of Covid and that’s not something that we can really battle. We’re trying but we’re missing out on a lot of people” said Roach.

If you would like to donate, BPL Plasma is open off Old Morgantown Road weekdays from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. and weekends from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m.

The company does compensate you for your donation and after the first donation, the process only takes about an hour.