Several blood types are in high demand and you could help change that.
If you take a moment to donate your blood this holiday season at the Kentucky Blood Center, you could save up to three people’s lives in just 45 minutes.
In fact, every two seconds, someone in the U.S. needs blood.
“The blood supply can take a hit over the holidays. So we’re trying to get folks to come out and give blood,” Mandy Brajuha, external relations coordinator at the Kentucky Blood Center, said.
Giving blood often gets overlooked. Mandy Brajuha’s team is on a mission to change that.
“You never know who your blood is going to impact, and it could very well be someone you’ve walked past in the grocery store, or someone that your kids go to school with,” Brajuha said.
Brajuha said she’s been donating her blood since she was 16. She appreciates how the Kentucky Blood Center sees the value in collecting it for local patients at surrounding-area hospitals.
“A little girl down the street from me, unfortunately dealt with large-B cell lymphoma a couple years ago and had to have blood transfusions, and she’s, you know, my neighbor, and my kids go to school with her, and we know her well. And so you just don’t know when someone that you love or someone that you know or see every day is going to need blood,” Brajuha said.
Right now, O negative is in critical need and A negative is in low supply. B negative and AB negative donations are also not meeting the demand.
“Transfusions have been down a little bit over the holidays, but again, with people getting on the road and traveling that, that could change very quickly,” Brajuha said.
Brajuha said the Kentucky Blood Center is giving away sweatshirts to donors starting Jan. 2.
You need to be at least 17 years old and weighing more than 110 pounds to donate. You can also be 16 years old with a guardian to donate. Anyone younger does not qualify.
Brajuha suggests eating a hearty breakfast and hydrating before coming in to donate.
There are two Kentucky Blood Center locations in Louisville. One is in Middletown and the other is in Hillview.
Schedule an appointment here, or call 800-775-2522. They also accept walk-ins.
Credit: Molly Jett-WDRB/Louisville
