Community Corner
JAX Chamber: National And Local Blood Shortages Continue
Blood donors of all types are needed now to help hospitals in Northeast Florida take care of patients.
July 1, 2021
A national blood shortage is impacting the entire country. News of the shortage has been covered on a national level; locally, LifeSouth is also experiencing shortages. Blood donors of all types are needed now to help hospitals in Northeast Florida take care of patients in our community.
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A decrease in donations during summer months historically causes the blood supply to drop to emergency levels. That shortage has been detrimental to blood supply levels, especially when coupled with an increase in need as hospitals resume elective surgeries and patients seek medical care that was postponed during the COVID-19 pandemic.
LifeSouth is asking blood donors to help patients at our local hospitals by giving blood. A growing concern for hospitals has been expressed as blood transfusions increase. Maintaining a stable blood supply is essential to make sure blood is available when needed for victims of accidents, those having surgery or patients being treated for cancers and other illnesses.
Find out what's happening in Jacksonvillefor free with the latest updates from Patch.
LifeSouth urges the community to donate blood soon. It is a great time to become a blood donor and learn your blood type, or for regular blood donors to donate and bring a friend.
Those who received the COVID-19 vaccine, including Johnson & Johnson, Pfizer and Moderna, are eligible to donate blood if they are symptom free and feeling well at the time of donation.
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 donor center(s) in Northeast Florida are located at:
• 7840 Baymeadows Way: Open Monday through Friday. Daily operating hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., except Wednesday (11 a.m. to 7 p.m.).
• 800 Prudential Drive (inside Baptist Medical Center Jacksonville): Open Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Monday and Wednesday hours are 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Wednesday hours are 12 to 7 p.m.
LifeSouth’s bloodmobiles will also be out at many locations in coming days, including:
July 1:• Memorial Hospital, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.• Walmart on Collins Road, 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.• Walmart in Durbin Park, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.July 2:• Memorial Hospital, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.• Starbucks in MacClenny, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
July 3:• Lake City Chamber of Commerce on South Marion Avenue, 4 to 9 p.m.• Flamingo Lake RV Resort, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.• Freedom Fest in Palm Coast, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.July 4:• Walmart on Shops Lane, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.• Cummer Museum of Art & Gardens, 3 to 10 p.m.July 5: • Publix at Island Walk in Fernandina Beach, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.• Walmart at 8808 Beach Boulevard, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
• Burlington at Durbin Pavilion, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
For additional information about donation or to find a blood drive near you, call LifeSouth toll-free at 888-795-2707 or visit www.lifesouth.org.
LifeSouth is a non-profit community blood bank serving more than 100 hospitals in Alabama, Florida, Georgia and Mississippi. LifeSouth is committed to meeting the blood supply needs of hospitals and their patients by providing the highest quality blood components and services. The LifeSouth team is dedicated to making sure the blood is there when a patient is in need. To learn more, visit LifeSouth.org.
National coverage of blood shortage:
This press release was produced by the JAX Chamber. The views expressed here are the author’s own.