UK Happenings

Bleed Blue to Save a Life

LEXINGTON, Ky. (Nov. 10, 2016) — Campus blood donors can bleed blue during the annual Big Blue Crush Blood Drive, Nov. 14-18, to help bring victory to the Bluegrass!

Big Blue Crush, a yearly blood battle between University of Kentucky and University of Tennessee fans, sponsored by the Kentucky Blood Center (KBC) in partnership with DanceBlue and the UK Center for Community Outreach, provides UK fans an opportunity to defeat Tennessee and save lives.

One blood donation can help save the lives of up to three patients. Not only can donors have a direct impact on others, at the upcoming Big Blue Crush Blood drive, Kentucky Blood Center will also donate $5 to the DanceBlue team of their choice. Funds can also be allocated to the general DanceBlue fund. Ask for a DanceBlue slip at the drive!

Donors at the Big Blue Slam Blood Drive will have the opportunity to donate, receive a Crush T-shirt and have a chance to win UK vs. University of Louisville football tickets. In addition, this year one lucky winner will receive a pair of UK blue Beats headphones!

Throughout Big Blue Crush week, there will be 10 different blood drives at these various locations:

Monday, Nov. 14:

William T. Young Library – 10 a.m.-4 p.m.

Tuesday, Nov. 15:

Chem-Phys Building, room 114 – 10 a.m.-4 p.m.

UK Johnson Center – 1-7 p.m.

Wednesday, Nov. 16:

UK Singletary Center for the Arts – 10 a.m.-6 p.m.

Thursday, Nov. 17:

UK Singletary Center – 10 a.m.-6 p.m.

UK Johnson Center – 1-7 p.m.

UK Hospital Bloodmobile (on Rose St.) – 8 a.m.-5 p.m.

Friday, Nov. 18:

UK Singletary Center – 10 a.m.-4:30 p.m.

Young Library – 10 a.m.-4 p.m.

UK Hospital Bloodmobile (on Rose St.) – 8 a.m.-5 p.m.

To schedule a donation, visit www.kybloodcenter.org or call 800-775-2522. Walk-ins are also welcome.

Blood donors must be 17-years-old (16 with parental consent), weigh at least 110 pounds, be in general good health, show a photo ID and meet additional requirements. Sixteen-year-old donors must have a signed parental permission slip, which can be found at www.kybloodcenter.org.

KBC, founded nearly 50 years ago, is the largest independent, full-service, nonprofit blood center in Kentucky. Licensed by the Food and Drug Administration, KBC’s sole purpose is to collect, process and distribute blood for patients in Kentucky hospitals.

All blood that is donated with KBC is returned to the Beaumont Donor Center where it is processed, prepared and stored for shipment to Kentucky hospitals.

Blood needs are ongoing. Red cells last only 42 days and must be continually replenished to adequately support Kentucky hospitals. Statistics show that one in seven hospital patients will require blood transfusions during their stay. However, only 37 percent of the population is eligible to donate blood and less than 10 percent does. All blood types are needed, and there is a particular need for type O negative blood since it is the “universal donor” and needed in emergencies when the patient’s blood type is unknown.

The blood already on the shelf is the blood used in an emergency. That’s why KBC is always encouraging people to donate blood.

For more information, contact KBC Marketing and Communications Manager Denise Fields at dfields@kybloodcenter.org