Kentucky Blood Center faces critical shortage during holiday season

LEXINGTON, Ky. (WKYT) - The Kentucky Blood Center is experiencing a critical shortage of blood donations just one week after their successful Big Blue Crush Blood Drive, with O negative blood type supplies at critically low levels.

Eric Lindsey with the Kentucky Blood Center said the organization currently has only about a half-day supply of O negative blood, which is used in emergency situations when there isn’t time to determine a patient’s blood type.

“There’s just been an active week in terms of transfusions for a lot of our 70 plus hospitals,” Lindsey said.

Holiday season creates perfect storm for shortages

The blood center is facing low supplies of several blood types during a time when donations typically decrease but medical need increases. Many donation chairs at the Kentucky Blood Center’s distribution site sit empty as potential donors navigate busy holiday schedules.

“Not a lot of people are coming in for various reasons. It’s the holidays people are busier and we know winter is a factor,” Lindsey said.

The timing creates particular concern for blood center officials, who worry about supply levels as the holiday season intensifies.

“If we’re in a poor spot now what is that going to mean in two, three weeks when we hit the actual holidays?” Lindsey said.

O negative blood critical for emergency care

Only about 7% of people have O negative blood type, but it remains in high demand because of its universal donor properties.

“That one is always in high demand because if you go into the hospital in an emergency situation and they don’t have time to type your blood that’s almost certainly the blood type you’re going to get,” Lindsey said.

The blood center serves more than 70 hospitals across the region and must respond when medical facilities request blood supplies.

“Blood is an every day need that is critical to our healthcare system. One in four people will need a blood transfusion in their lifetime for everything from traumas, surgeries, organ transplants, mothers in childbirth, cancer treatments,” Lindsey said.

Each donation can save multiple lives

Lindsey emphasized that blood donations directly impact patient care and survival.

“We can’t save lives without people showing up to give blood. We don’t ask for blood because this is our job. We ask for blood because there are people behind the blood bags,” he said.

One whole blood donation can save up to three lives.

The Kentucky Blood Center hopes blood donation might become a New Year’s resolution for potential donors as 2026 approaches.