LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Attention, there is a need for blood donors.

What You Need To Know

  • UofL Health is looking for blood donors

  • Blood donations traditionally low during summer months

  • More blood needed as elective operations resume

  • Louisville hospitals are treating more gunshot victims this year according to police

“Blood is needed now, more than in the past," said Dr. Claire Meena-Leist with UofL Health.

It may be a familiar plea and while blood supplies are typically lower than preferred Meena-Leist says several factors are putting even more pressure on supplies.

“People think blood is just going to be available for them whenever they need it and that’s not always the case or at least it may not be going forward," Dr. Meena-Leist told Spectrum News 1. UofL Healths Chief of Transfusion Services says as COVID-19 restrictions end elective surgeries and operations are resuming requiring blood.

“We had difficulty with blood shortages during COVID-19 but because there were not as many elective hospitalizations we had a little leeway," Dr. Meena-Leist said. What leeway there was is being squeezed.

Emergency rooms are also treating an increased number of gunshot victims in the Louisville metro. In fact at least 10 people were shot from Friday through Sunday according to LMPD.

“Trauma is a year-round event and it was amazing during COVID-19, traumas didn’t stop, ”said Meena_Leist.

2020 was the deadliest year ever in Louisville with a record number of homicides. 2021 is on pace to have another record year for violence. According to the most recent number from LMPD there have been approximately 300 nonfatal gunshot victims in the city. This number already surpassed the total of victims in 2020. “ One trauma can use over 100 units of red blood cells. It’s a day-to-day situation," Dr. Meena-Leist adds.

“Now we are all open and hospitals are just as busy as they were before COVID-19. You’re correct, traumas are up and now we have a full-blown country needing blood.”

UofL Health has provided a list of upcoming blood drives and donation locations:

  • 6/14 Holy Family-3:00 p.m. to 8 p.m.-3938 Poplar Level Rd. Louisville
  • 6/15 St. Anthony of Padua-2:00 p.m. to 6 p.m.-316 N. Sherwood Ave. Clarksville IN
  • 6/15 Christ Church United Methodist-2:00 p.m. to 7 p.m.-4614 Brownsboro Rd. Louisville
  • 6/15 C3AG Calvary Christian Center-2:00 p.m. to 7 p.m.-10710 Taylorsville Rd. Louisville
  • 6/16 Life Church Louisville-2:00 p.m. to 6 p.m.-4431 E. Pages Ln. Louisville
  • 6/16 St. Paul Baptist@Shively Heights-2:00 p.m. to 7 p.m.-2627 Crums Ln. Louisville
  • 6/17 One Community Church-2:00 p.m. to 7 p.m.-1810 Blackiston Mill Rd. Clarksville IN
  • 6/17 North Oldham Lions Club-2:00 p.m. to 7 p.m.-12414 W. Hwy. 42 Prospect KY
  • 6/17 Green Tree Mall-1:00 p.m. to 6 p.m.-757 E. Lewis & Clark Pkwy. Clarksville IN
  • 6/18 Floyd County Fallen Officer-10:00 a.m. to 4 p.m.-4407 Charlestown Rd. New Albany IN
  • 6/18 American Red Cross-10:00 a.m. to 3 p.m.-291 N. Hubbards Ln. Louisville
  • 6/20 Culbertson Baptist Church-11:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.-4007 Grant Line Rd. New Albany IN
  • 6/20 St. Patrick Catholic Church-9:00 a.m. to 2 p.m.-1000 N. Beckley Station Rd. Louisville
  • 6/21 Clark Community Drive-1:00 p.m. to 6 p.m.-225 E. Market St. Jeffersonville IN
  • 6/21 Most Blessed Sacrament-3 p.m. to 7 p.m.-3509 Taylor Blvd. Louisville
  • 6/21 Knights of Columbus-1:00 p.m. to 6 p.m.-809 E. Main St. New Albany IN
  • 6/22 St. Andrew UCC-2:00 p.m. to 7 p.m.-2608 Browns Ln. Louisville
  • 6/23 Graceland Baptist Church-2:00 p.m. to 7 p.m.-3600 Kamer Miller Rd. New Albany IN
  • 6/23 Clarksville Battle of the Badges-2:00 p.m. to 7 p.m.-750 E. Lewis & Clark Pkwy. Clarksville IN
  • 6/23 Church of Jesus Christ Latter-day Saints-3 p.m. to 8 p.m.-1000 S. Hurstbourne Pkwy. Louisville
  • 6/27 St. Agnes-9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.-1920 Newburg Rd. Louisville

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