LifeSouth says it's worried if donations don’t increase, patient care at local hospitals may be threatened.
With that in mind, the blood bank network is holding an emergency blood drive in Clay County.
The main blood drive will be Tuesday, Nov. 3, at Orange Park Medical Center at 2001 Kingsley Avenue from 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.
Other opportunities to donate blood this week in Clay County include:
- Orange Park Medical Center In-Patient Rehab Center, 1883 Kingsley Avenue, Monday, Nov. 2, from 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.
- Green Cove Springs City Hall, 321 Walnut Street, Tuesday, Nov. 3, from 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.
“Blood supplies are down nationwide, in large part because of COVID-19,” said JD Pettyjohn, vice president of operations for LifeSouth, in an email to WJCT News. “We are in dire need of blood donors, especially those with type O blood, as patients in our local hospitals rely on blood to survive. There is no substitute for blood donations, making blood donors so important.”
LifeSouth has a critically low supply of type O blood (both positive and negative). Type O blood is the most transfused type and critical for accident and trauma patients.
Blood can also be donated at other LifeSouth locations or blood drives. See www.lifesouth.org for a full list of locations or call LifeSouth’s toll-free number, 1-888-795-2707. Appointments can also be made online.
Bill Bortzfield can be reached at bbortzfield@wjct.org or on Twitter at @BortzInJax.
