Blood centers in ‘critical need’ of donors. See where you can give blood in Kentucky.

Due to a shortage of blood in Kentucky and nationwide, donors are in high demand for the post-holiday season.

Chris Hrouda, president of American Red Cross Biomedical Services, said in a release that winter is historically a challenging time to collect blood. There is now a “critical need” for all blood types, he said.

In Eastern Kentucky, several blood drives were canceled this week due to bad weather, the Kentucky Blood Center said. Transfusions continue to remain steady at the more than 70 hospitals in the state where Kentucky Blood Center supplies blood, but transfusions have outpaced donations by more than 600 pints this year, the blood center said Wednesday.

The decline in blood around the holidays was especially dramatic this year, said Martha Osborne, vice president of marketing for the Kentucky Blood Center.

All types of blood are needed, but especially Type O, which is important for ongoing patient care and emergencies, the Red Cross said.

Type O positive is the most transfused blood type, while Type O negative is universal blood. The Red Cross said Monday there was just a three-day supply of Type O blood.

Blood donation only takes around 12 minutes, and it can save three lives. Donors must be at least 17 years old, weigh at least 110 pounds, have photo identification and be in good health.

The Kentucky Blood Center has locations on Beaumont Centre Circle and Maple Leaf Drive in Lexington; two locations in Louisville; and one each in Pikeville and Somerset. American Red Cross blood drives can be found at redcrossblood.org.

The Red Cross has teamed up with the NFL to offer a Super Bowl prize package to a randomly-selected donor who gives blood by Jan. 19.

This story was originally published January 9, 2020 at 9:50 AM.