TENNESSEE VALLEY-LifeSouth faces an emergency need for blood donors, especially type O positive.
Hospitals have resumed normal operations, but donations continue to decline because of COVID-19. Schools, businesses community events and churches who hold blood drives regularly, are unable to because of closures and limited hours. LifeSouth worries if donations do not increase, patient care may be affected.
JD Pettyjohn
“Although blood shortages are anticipated during summer months, this time of year we generally see an ample supply, but because of COVID, we can’t hold our normal blood drives, including high school and college blood drives,” said JD Pettyjohn, vice president of operations for LifeSouth. “We are in dire need of blood donors as patients in our local hospitals rely on blood to survive, and there is no substitute for blood donations, this is why blood donors are so important.”
Right now, LifeSouth has a critically low supply of O positive blood. Type O positive blood is the most transfused type and critical for accident and trauma patients.
LifeSouth asks all blood donors, especially O positive donors, to please come in and donate and reminds the public that it is safe to donate blood.
Visit www.lifesouth.org to find the closest blood center or blood drive near you or call LifeSouth’s toll-free number, 1-888-795-2707. Appointments can also be made online or by calling.
LifeSouth is a non-profit community blood center serving 17 North Alabama hospitals.
Media Release/Lifesouth Community Blood Centers
