Urgent need for blood donations as COVID-19 persists
Published 8:31 am Saturday, October 3, 2020
Kentucky Blood Center is asking area residents to donate blood and help ensure an adequate blood supply for local hospitals and patients. As COVID-19 continues to plague our daily lives, KBC continues to see blood drives cancel.
The next blood drive in Danville will be 10:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 7 at the Boyle County Public Library’s Heart of Danville Community Room. All donors will receive the KBC limited-edition #SaveANeighbor Kentucky socks.
Autumn usually sees the blood center visiting high schools across the Commonwealth, but with most districts still in virtual learning, blood drives are not happening and the void left has KBC looking to communities for additional support.
Patients at the 70+ Kentucky hospitals served by KBC rely on donors to roll up their sleeves and save a neighbor with regular blood donations. Kentucky Blood Center is the sole provider of blood products to Ephraim McDowell Regional Medical Center in Danville, as well as many other regional hospitals.
Blood products are often used to help cancer patients, trauma patients, women in childbirth and individuals with chronic illnesses like sickle cell anemia. Blood donors who regularly donate at local blood drives ensure that that blood is on the shelf to help these patients in times of need.
Blood donors must be 17-years-old, weigh at least 110 pounds, be in general good health, show a photo I.D. and meet additional requirements. Sixteen-year-olds can donate with a signed parental permission slip, which can be found at kybloodcenter.org.
To schedule a donation, visit kybloodcenter.org or call (800) 775.2522.