BOWLING GREEN, Ky. — As holiday travel ramps up, more car accidents are likely to occur. According to the U.S. Travel Association, 59% of Americans plan to travel this year.

As one Kentucky lab coordinator says, on average people are less likely to donate blood during the holidays — which presents a problem for health centers treating patients. 

Lauren Nickel is the technical coordinator of the blood bank at the Med Center in Bowling Green. Here, Nickel is often preparing for a cross-match—a step in making sure the blood is compatible with the patient. 

Nickel, who has worked at the Med Center for about two years, plans to facilitate procedures like these more frequently as accidents increase over the holidays.

Currently, there is not a shortage at the blood bank in the Med Center. But Nickel says this may change. 

“And then people forget to donate, so if you have a demand but no supply, that’s when we run into shortages and have to make really difficult decisions for patient care,” Nickel said. 

Collected blood expires after 42 days. That’s another reason the Bowling Green native says donating is important. And, most of the time, it’s a pretty simple process.

“They make sure your arm is nice and sterile, and then you get stuck with a needle,” Nickel explained. '“And I’m not going to lie, it is a little painful, but I’m willing to take a little bit of pain for someone’s worst day.”

The Kentucky Blood Center says there is a critical need for O Negative, A Negative, B Negative, and AB-Negative blood types. American Red Cross hosts multiple blood donations across the state. You can find one close to you by visiting redcross.org.