SALYERSVILLE – In a time when a lot is uncertain, one thing remains a constant: the need for blood donation is still as critical as it has ever been.
On Tuesday, December 28, the Kentucky Blood Center will be set up in the Fellowship Hall of the Salyersville First Baptist Church, on Dixie Avenue, from 1 to 5 p.m. Donors are encouraged to schedule a donation appointment in advance by either going to kybloodcenter.org or by calling 800-775-2522.
The December 10 and 11 tornadoes that affected much of the state showed just how important community blood drives really are.
Mandy Brajuha, Kentucky Blood Center Vice President, External Relations, said, “These tragedies happen unfortunately but it was the blood that was on the shelves, it was the donors that came in Thursday, Friday, Wednesday of last week that were able to help with that tragedy. If the blood’s not on the shelves when that tragedy happens then we can’t impact the victims and help them recover.”
KBC has seen double the amount of appointments for blood donations since the recent tornado outbreak, with all of the blood needs in western Kentucky now met. KBC representatives noted that it is still important that community members keep donating in order to help build a good blood supply.
Blood donation continues to be important and safe for donors and KBC encourages all healthy individuals to donate when they can and as often as they are eligible.
They do encourage blood donors to complete their healthy history questionnaire online before coming to the donor center by using QuickPass at kybloodcenter.org (on the day of donation) to reduce the donor’s time in the center and allow them to use their own personal devise for the task. Blood donation appointments are very important to help them manage the number of people at the donation sites.
KBC has two donor centers in Lexington, two in Louisville and locations in Pikeville and Somerset.
