Decatur Blood Center Urges Donations to Ease Shortage

The combination of winter holidays and flu and cold season have caused a blood supply emergency at LifeSouth, a non-profit that supplies blood to more than 100 hospitals throughout Georgia, Alabama and Florida.

Blood supply levels are 40 percent below the minimum level LifeSouth needs to provide enough blood to hospital patients, according to a release from the organization.

“This is coming at a time when supplies were already low because of reduced donations during the winter holidays,” said LifeSouth Vice President of Operations J.B. Bowles in the release. “Meanwhile, blood usage at many of our hospitals is far above normal, making the shortage even more serious.”

The increased usage in hospitals means that type O blood, the universal donor, is especially in demand. Type O negative blood can be transfused into any emergency patient, while any patients with a positive blood type can use O positive blood.

LifeSouth describes its shortage as an “emergency need” -- a term organization representatives don’t take lightly.

“We only use this term when inventory levels are at the very lowest,” explained Bowles. “It means our hospitals have less than a two-day supply and LifeSouth does not have the blood available to resupply the hospitals when that blood is used.”

To encourage blood donations throughout the Atlanta community, LifeSouth will deploy one of its mobile blood centers, which will visit Decatur on Jan. 17 outside Advantage Tax Services on Panola Industrial Blvd. from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

A mobile center will also stop in Kennesaw on Jan. 15 and 18, Marietta on Jan. 16 and 17, Lilburn on Jan. 18 and Lawrenceville on Jan. 18.

To donate blood at one of LifeSouth’s blood centers, donors must be 17 or older, or 16 with parental consent, weigh at least 110 pounds and be in good health. All donors must bring a photo ID. For information on donation requirements and resources, call 888-795-2707.

LifeSouth’s nearest blood center is located at 4891 Ashford Dunwoody Road in Dunwoody and open Monday through Sunday with varied hours; call the center at 404-329-1994 to make an appointment.

Patch file photo

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