Blood donations have been in high demand since Super Storm ‘Sandy’ struck the eastern seaboard. As part of a national network, blood gathered by the Lexington-based Kentucky Blood Center has been sent to disaster areas. Blood Center spokeswoman Denise Fields says some blood products collect in the commonwealth have already been sent to New York.
“Negative blood types like O neg, A neg , etc, are real important in emergency situation because that’s the blood products that are grabbed first. If you go in, you don’t know your blood type, in an emergency you’re gonna get O-neg,” said Fields.
Since blood has a limited shelf life, Fields says the demand for it is always pressing. Fields says timely donations are critical during a time of natural disaster.
“In a disaster, it’s the blood on the shelf that you need. It’s one thing to come in later to fill those shelves back up again, but in a disaster, you need that blood right away. So, we are asking donors to come in all the time, especially the ones with the negative blood types so that we always are able to help,” added Fields.
Next week, officials the Kentucky Blood Center hope some 35 hundred blood donors will participate in the annual Big Blue Crush blood drive. The blood donated helps the agency supply demand during the holidays.
