LifeSouth faces an emergency need for blood donors

LifeSouth Community Blood Centers faces emergency need for all blood types, and encourages the community to donate blood.

Summer continues to be a slow time for blood donations due to weather, travel and school breaks, but the need to help patients in local hospitals remains constant. Donors are also needed to ensure the community blood supply remains constant in the event of severe weather, including tropical storms and hurricanes.

LifeSouth encourages donors to come in to a donor center or find a blood drive location at www.lifesouth.org. First time donors are always welcome and encouraged to give blood donation a try. All donors are important to help meet the needs of the local blood supply. It will be taking donations from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, July 28, 2018 at Sister’s Family Restaurant, 6550 GA-20, Loganville.

LifeSouth only uses the word “emergency” when the reserve supply to restock area hospitals drops below a two-day level. All blood types are needed, especially type O negative, which is the universal donor and is commonly used by patients in an emergency. Platelet donations are also critically needed now.

All donors receive a thank you gift, and a mini-physical, including blood pressure, temperature, iron level and cholesterol screen.

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 needed. LifeSouth’s bloodmobiles will also be out at many locations in coming days (see attachment for schedule of upcoming blood drives). For additional information call LifeSouth toll-free at 888-795-2707 or visit www.lifesouth.org.

LifeSouth’s donor centers are open 7 days a week and located at:

4891 Ashford Dunwoody Rd NE., Atlanta, GA 30338 (404) 329-1994

1200 McEver Rd., Gainesville, GA 30504 (770) 538-0500

329 Westridge Pkwy., McDonough, GA 30253 (678) 432-0637