TENNESSEE VALLEY-Snow and icy roads delivered another blow to the area’s blood supply, and LifeSouth is asking its donors all across North Alabama for help once the roads are safe for travel.
“With snow and ice closing the roads, we lost two full days of operations, so we’ll really have some ground to make up. Once it’s safe for our donors to travel we’re really going to need their help,” said LifeSouth North
LifeSouth snow-covered bloodmobiles Thursday at its North Alabama District Headquarters in Madison, Ala.
Alabama District Director Jason Hodges. “Our aim now is to reopen our centers by noon and have our bloodmobiles back on the road later today.”
“The snow and ice storms impacted several of our blood drives in North Alabama and Georgia, covering some of the largest communities we serve,” said LifeSouth Vice President of
Operations J.B. Bowles. “Weather last week already pushed our supply to emergency levels in these areas.”
LifeSouth doesn’t use the word “emergency” lightly. The distinctive yellow and black emergency signs are used only when reserve levels drop to less than a two-day supply. Bowles said the winter of 2015 has been one of the most challenging in years.
“Our holiday slowdown was magnified by the flu epidemic,” Bowles said. “We were just
J.B. Bowles
starting to catch up when the weather delivered this one-two punch.”
Type O donors and apheresis platelet donors are especially needed, but donors of all blood types can help.
“We get nearly 70 percent of our donations aboard our bloodmobiles, so when it’s unsafe for them to run, it puts a severe decline in the supply,” Bowles said. “We also want our donors to be safe.”
Donors must be at least 17, or 16 with parental permission, weigh a minimum of 110 pounds and be in good health. A photo ID is also required. For additional information call LifeSouth toll-free at 888-795-2707 or visit lifesouth.org.
MEDIA RELEASE/LIFESOUTH/Marquasha Carter, District Community Development Coordinator
