Respiratory illnesses severely slice blood donation numbers

Kentucky Blood Center received 30% blood needs going into Christmas weekend

SOMERSET, Ky. – These widespread respiratory illnesses that have been plaguing Kentucky throughout December have severely decreased blood donations.

Many of Kentucky Blood Center’s blood donors have had to cancel their appointments these last few weeks due to Rising Flu and RSV numbers combined with icy weather conditions.

Kentucky Blood Center needs roughly 400 donors a day to supply the 70 hospitals in Eastern Kentucky. 

Going into Christmas this last weekend, they only had 30 percent of the blood supply they needed.

Kentucky Blood Center Vice President of External Relations Mandy Brajuha said, “We didn’t collect what we thought into the holiday weekend, and that has really put us in a crunch especially going into another holiday weekend…. You can work yourself into a shortage pretty quickly, but it’s hard to work yourself out of it.” 

If you can help out by lending an army, visit Kentucky Blood Center’s website to find a local blood drive near you.