Western Kentucky Blood Supply Low: How You Can Help and New Graduation Honor for Donors
The Western Kentucky Regional Blood Center (WKRBC) is facing a critical shortage of blood, particularly type A Positive. Local hospitals and emergency services rely on WKRBC as their sole supplier of blood and blood products, making donations vital for the health of the Western Kentucky community.
Current Blood Needs and Hospital Support
WKRBC serves eleven counties in Western Kentucky and provides blood to several key medical facilities, including:
- Owensboro Health Regional Hospital
- Owensboro Health Twin Lakes Medical Center
- Ohio County Hospital
- Crittenden Health System
- Caldwell County Hospital
- Jennie Stuart Medical Center
- Breckinridge Memorial Health
- Air Evac 92 – Breckenridge County
- Air Evac 120 – Crittenden County
- Air Evac 10 – Christian County
These hospitals, along with three air ambulance services, depend on a consistent blood supply from WKRBC to treat patients in need.
High School Hero Program: Earn a Graduation Cord by Donating
Western Kentucky graduating seniors have a unique opportunity to deliver back to their community and be recognized for their generosity. The High School Hero Program awards a special blood-red cord to students who meet the following criteria:
- Be a graduating senior from a participating high school.
- Successfully donate four (4) units of blood prior to May 10th.
- Alert staff of their high school’s name when donating at any WKRBC blood drive location.
Students who are ineligible to donate blood can still participate by volunteering for four (4) hours at the blood center.
Scholarship Opportunity for High School Heroes
In partnership with the Daviess and Ohio County Fiscal Courts, High School Heroes are eligible to apply for a $1,000 scholarship to help cover college expenses.
How to Grow a High School Hero & Contact Information
Students in Daviess, Ohio, McLean, Hancock, Breckinridge, and Grayson Counties should contact Vicki Ellis at vicki@wkrbc.org. Students in Christian, Crittenden, Caldwell, Trigg, and Lyon counties should contact Robbin Shively at robbin@wkrbc.org. You can also call WKRBC at (270) 684-9296 for more information.
Donating Blood: Eligibility and Tips
To ensure a safe and successful donation, please preserve the following in mind:
- Present a photo ID upon registration.
- Drink plenty of water to stay hydrated.
- Eat a solid meal before and after donating.
- Inform blood center staff of any travel or medical conditions.
- Donors must weigh at least 115 pounds.
- The legal age for voluntary blood donation in Kentucky is 17, or 16 with signed consent.
- Donors must wait 56 days (8 weeks) between donations.
WKRBC Donor Programs
WKRBC offers several donor programs, including an individual blood program where donors can acquire blood coverage for themselves and their families after donating twice a year. A blood replacement program is also available, allowing patients to receive a $10 refund per unit of blood replaced by donations from loved ones. Learn more about donor programs here.
How to Donate
You can donate blood at the WKRBC centers. Contact information is as follows:
- 1-270-684-9296 – Owensboro Center and Hopkinsville Center
- 1-270-885-0728
The entire donation process takes approximately 30-40 minutes.