Need for blood reaches record-setting levels in Kentucky Kentucky Blood Center sent about 8,000 units of blood to hospitals in January Share Updated: 5:47 PM EST Feb 16, 2021 Kentucky Blood Center sent about 8,000 units of blood to hospitals in January Share Updated: 5:47 PM EST Feb 16, 2021 Hide Transcript Show Transcript WITH JUST ONE DONATION. >> THE IMPACTS ON THE ROADS HAVE BEEN CLEAR. CRASHES AND CLOSURES BLAMED ON MOTHER NATURE'S POLAR PLUNGE, BUT AS THE WINTRY PRECIPITATION AND TEMPERATURES FALL SO ARE BLOOD DONATIONS. >> IT PUTS A LOT OF WRENCHES IN PLANS. >> WE SPOKE WITH THE VICE PRESIDENT OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS AT KENTUCKY BLOOD CENTER THIS WEEK. LISTEN TO THIS. SHE SAYS THE FIRST MONTH OF 2021 SE A RECORD. THE BLOOD CENTER SHIPPED ABOUT 8,000 UNITS OF BLOOD TO MORE THAN 70 HOSPITALS ACROSS THE COMMONWEALTH, AND THEY NEED MORE QUICK. >> WE DON'T WANT ANYONE TO RISK THEIR OWN LIFE TO COME OUT AND SAFE SOMEONE ELSE BUT IF YOU'RE COMFORTABLE -- THERE ARE A LOT OF FOLKS, SNOW DOESN'T PHASE THEM AT ALL. WE WOULD LOVE TO SEE YOU OUT, ESPECIALLY AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. >> WITH MOST SCHOOLS LEARNING VIRTUALLY AND MANY WORKING FROM HOME, THE TYPICAL BLOOD DRIVES WE SEE INSIDE SCHOOLS OR WORKPLACES, THOSE DID NOT HAPPEN THIS YEAR. PAIR THAT WITH THE PANDEMIC AND THE WINTER STORMS AND OTHER EMERGENCIES, AND YOU'LL QUICKLY SEE THINGS DO NOT ADD UP AS THE AGENCY DEALS WITH FEWER APPOINTMENTS, AND WEATHER FORCED CLOSURES AT SOME LOCATIONS. >> WHEN THEY DON'T KNOW THE TYPE OF BLOOD OF THE PATIENT, IF THEY DON'T HAVE TIME TO TYPE THE BLOOD AND THEY NEED THE BLOOD TO TRANSFUSE, O NEGATIVE IS WHAT GOES THAT PATIENT AND THE NEED DOESN'T GO AWAY. WHETHER WE HAVE SIX DONOR CENTERS AND WE HAVE TO CLOSE THREE OF THEM FOR SNOW WE STILL HAVE TO GET BLOOD IN THE DOOR SO IT BECOMES KIND OF A MAZE AND A GAME OF FIGURING OUT HOW TO PIECE IT ALTOGETHER. >> THE AMERICAN RED CROSS IS ALSO TRYING TO MAKE IT WORK. THEY ARE OFFERING $5 AMAZON GIFT CARDS IF YOU USE THEIR APP OR WEBSITE TO MAKE A FEBRUARY APPOINTMENT. IN LATE DECEMBER WE SHOWED YOU THE CHANGES THEY MADE TO MAKE MOBILE DONATIONS POSSIBLE. STILL, THEY HAVE RECENTLY HAD TO CANCEL SOME. >> IF WE CAN'T GET OUT THERE AND GET THE BLOOD AND THEN THE HOSPITALS DON'T NEED LESS, THEY CERTAINLY NEED MO