LifeSouth Community Blood Centers is urgently asking all blood donors to donate before the winter storm impacts local areas. The effects of the storm will cause closures of donation centers and scheduled blood drives, resulting in hundreds of blood donations being canceled. LifeSouth officials are concerned these cancellations will impact an already strained blood supply.
A five-day blood supply is needed to ensure blood is available to help patients, and currently, there is less than a three-day supply. All blood types are needed. Winter is a season when hospitals need more blood due to increased demand, and blood donations decrease due to weather and seasonal illnesses, causing the supply to decrease.
LifeSouth supplies EMS crews with blood to treat trauma patients on site, and area hospitals to treat traumas and health issues requiring blood transfusions. LifeSouth officials stress that blood donors mean the difference between life and death for patients in critical need.
All blood donors will receive a special sweatshirt as a thank you for donating. Platelet and double red cell donors will also receive a $40 e-gift card. LifeSouth is also offering complimentary A1c testing to all blood donors, giving donors the chance to learn if they may have pre-diabetes or diabetes, and more about their health. To find a blood drive or donor center, visit lifesouth.org.
