The center said blood donations usually “go by the wayside” during the holiday season, which further depletes inventory, according to Alecia Lipton, a spokesperson for the Hoxworth Blood Center.
“During the holidays, there are still patients in the hospitals,” Ms. Lipton said. “The need for blood products doesn’t take a break.”
Hoxworth Blood Center needs people to donate 300 units of blood each day to serve 30 different hospitals in the area. If the center runs out of blood during emergency situations, it would have to import more donations from Kentucky and Indiana.
For Dec. 24, the center has 32 donors scheduled, with the goal of hitting 171 appointments, according to the report. The center is reaching out to the community to encourage more donations.
“Everyone has blood,” said Ms. Lipton. “It’s the season of giving and when you donate, you’re giving the gift of life.”
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