Louisville officials call on public to donate blood following mass shooting. Here’s how

Louisville Mayor Craig Greenberg and hospital officials have called on Kentuckians to step up in the wake of Monday’s mass shooting and donate blood.

The request was made as part of an 11:30 a.m. press conference from Louisville officials.

Monday morning, a single gunman opened fire around 8:30 a.m. at Old National Bank in downtown Louisville, killing five and injuring nine before being shot and killed by responding officers with the Louisville Metro Police Department.

As of Tuesday morning, four victims remained hospitalized, one of whom remains in critical condition.

“For those of you who are looking to take action right now, to show your support for the first responders who are trying to save lives and for the victims of gun violence, one great way to do that is to donate blood,” Greenberg said.

How to donate blood in wake of Louisville mass shooting

In a brief update on victims Tuesday morning, Dr. Jason Smith, chief medical officer with University of Louisville Health, said the American Red Cross was able to provide the hospital with enough blood to treat Monday’s gunshot victims.

“We used 170 units of blood yesterday to treat these victims, which far outstrips our hospital capacity,” he noted.

As such, in comments and in information provided to media, he and Greenberg asked the public to donate directly to the Red Cross.

Officials cited John Hopkins Medicine research finding victims of gunshots require 10 times more blood than victims of other trauma and are 14 times more likely to succumb to their wounds. Those other traumas include injuries in motor vehicle incidents, non-gun assaults and falls or stabs.

Where to give blood in Kentucky

To find a location near you, visit redcrossblood.org.

You can input your zip code to see blood donation locations near you, identify appointment slots and schedule your donation time.

Additionally, Kentucky Blood Center is taking donations in the regions of the state it covers, including two donation centers in Lexington, two in Louisville, Frankfort, Pikeville, Somerset and Corbin.

You can make an appointment online at kybloodcenter.org for ease, but Mandy Brajuha, vice president of external relations, said the centers welcome walk-in donors, as well.

Brajuha said while the center has “pretty healthy blood supplies” as of the start of the year, it is experiencing an annual dip following spring break. As such, officials ask the public to make plans to donate regularly.

The Red Cross provides the following basic parameters for those looking to donate blood:

• You can give blood every 56 days
• You must be in good health and “feeling well”
• You must be at least 16 years old
• You must weigh at least 110 pounds

Other restrictions and requirements may apply. The organization also provides an overview of those who cannot donate, including those who have traveled to a “malaria-risk country” in the last three years, those with low iron, those with a cold or flu and those who take certain medications.

Kentucky Blood Center offers answers frequently asked questions about its donation policies online.

Those who are blood type O negative, the universal donor, are especially encouraged to make an appointment.

This story was originally published April 11, 2023 at 12:54 PM.