LOUISVILLE, Ky. — If you're an eligible blood donor, you may want to check in with a local donation center as the need for some blood types are in high demand.
The Kentucky Blood Center (KBC) said, as of Thursday, type A- is in critical status and the universal type, O-, is in low supply.
The center's bloodmobile was stationed at Donate Now KY's parking lot and was full of employees willing to give blood on Thursday.
Donor recruitment specialist Brooke Nevius said they don't usually see people so eager to give anymore. Within the last 10 years they've noticed that donations continue to decline.
"We need about 400 units a day to supply the blood to our hospitals here in Kentucky," Nevius said.
It's as easy as laying back, squeezing a ball and filling vials full of blood to potentially save someone's life. But Nevius said turn out is starting to become low.
"We're all as a country, and everyone who collects blood, trying to figure out how we can get people in to donate blood," Nevius said. "It's such a simple thing it costs nothing and you save a life."
According to UofL Health blood transfusions saved lives after the mass shooting at Old National Bank last year. It's one of the many reasons why the executive director of Donate Life KY Shelley Snyder took a seat in the bloodmoblie.
"Tragic situations like that are just unbelievable and the gift one person can give to hopefully save a life is incredible," Snyder said.
UofL Health's Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Jason Smith, said they used over 80 units of blood while operating to save lives after the shooting.
"I'll be the first person to tell you there were a lot of miracles that happened that day," Smith said. "But that's a testament to the system and the Red Cross and Kentucky Blood Center are a part of that system."
Our blood also goes a long way for other emergencies as well such as organ transplant surgeries.
"It's not all about trauma," Smith said. "It's not all about car accidents and things like that. There are so many places that a blood donation can touch within our healthcare system."
Nevius said having a bus full of donors that day showed the call for action is being heard.
"It thrills me to death because it means that once somebody donates they understand the importance of it," Nevius said. "I think so many of us don't understand how important it is to donate because we haven't been faced with it in our lives."
Although O- and A- blood are in the spotlight you could make a positive change by giving 45 minutes of your time to save a life. KBC they need about 400 units a day to make sure every hospital across the state has enough supply.
To schedule an appointment with the Red Cross click this link.
To schedule an appointment or find a KBC mobile center click this link.
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