Blood supply levels are critical for the Western Kentucky Regional Blood Center (WKRBC) and they are imploring local businesses to help them host blood drives to increase blood supplies during the continuing coronavirus pandemic.
Robbin Shively, WKRBC Public Relations and Donor Recruiter, states that even as state mandated restrictions begin to ease and performance of elective surgeries ramps up the Blood Center is still unable to hold blood drives like normal. She adds they are currently in need of all blood types with critical need of specific blood types changing daily.
Shively notes blood is flying off shelves as fast as it is being donated, tested, and processed, the timeline for processing a pint of blood being up to eight hours. She states many community businesses are willing to host blood drives but do not have space to social distance and the use of their mobile unit, which helps them collect 55-percent of their blood donations, will not be possible for at least the next two months.
Shively is urging business owners who have space to practice social distancing to consider hosting a blood drive. Blood donated to WKRBC provides blood to six western Kentucky hospitals including Caldwell Medical Center, Crittenden Health System, and Jennie Stuart Medical Center, and three Air-Evac units within the area.
For more information about how you can host a blood drive, or if you would like to schedule a blood donation at their Hopkinsville office, you can contact Robbin Shively at 270-885-0728.