Photo courtesy of LIFELINE Blood Services
An urgent need for all blood types was announced by LIFELINE Blood Services Monday. West Tennessee’s blood supply is at a critically low level and LIFELINE is in dire need of donors willing to roll up their sleeves as soon as possible.
“A common belief is that most blood is needed after major disasters. However, daily personal emergencies and the ongoing medical needs of thousands of patients require a constant and ready blood supply. It’s the blood already on hospital shelves that saves lives. West TN patients rely on your donations for their care, and we need those donations now more than ever. We cannot manufacture blood products, so please consider donating TODAY!” said Melinda Reid, Marketing Manager with LIFELINE Blood Services.
The shortage is caused by several canceled community blood drives due to the recent weather. The holidays always present a challenge and can interfere with donors’ schedules as well.
Historically, LIFELINE has experienced a dramatically increased usage of blood donations at the start of the year due to postponed surgeries finally being scheduled and carried out.
“This is a critical appeal, and we need everyone to donate at either our Jackson or Dyersburg Center or on one of our mobile blood drives in order to save lives. Massive traumas occur without warning, making it imperative that volunteers donate whenever they can to ensure blood is available at all times,” said Melinda Reid, Marketing Manager with LIFELINE Blood Services.
LIFELINE Blood Services, located at 183 Sterling Farms Drive, is open Monday through Saturday from 9 a.m. – 6 p.m. Walk-ins are welcome. The Dyersburg Center is located at 1130 HWY 51 Bypass, Suite 19 & 20, and is open Saturday 8 a.m. – 4 p.m., Sunday through Tuesday 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.
This week’s Community Mobile Blood Drives are listed below:
Monday, Jan. 2 Trenton: Food Rite (Armory Street)– 12:30 pm to 5:30 pm
Tuesday, Jan. 3 Union City: Baptist Memorial Hospital –9 am to 12pm Martin: West TN Healthcare Volunteer Hospital – 2 pm to 5 pm
Jackson: Maximum Sports & Fitness- 1 pm to 6 pm
Wednesday, Dec. 4 Savannah: Hardin Medical Center –12 pm to 6 pm
Somerville: Fayette County Sheriff’s Office–12 pm to 5 pm
Huntingdon: First Pentecostal Church –2 pm to 6 pm
Thursday, Dec. 5
Paris: First United Methodist Church–12 pm to 6 pm
Dyersburg: First United Methodist Church –1 pm to 6 pm
Friday, Dec. 6
Bolivar: Simmons Bank –12 pm to 5 pm
McKenzie: Save-A-Lot –12 pm to 6 pm
Milan: Lowe’s –1 pm to 6 pm
LIFELINE provides blood services to 21 West Tennessee counties, including 17 hospitals and 14 emergency helicopter service locations. Annually, the Center collects approximately 26,000 blood products (red cell units, platelets, plasma, etc.) to meet the needs of patients. Of that total, 75% of those products are usually collected on the bloodmobiles across West Tennessee. LIFELINE also provides reference lab and cross-matching services to healthcare facilities. For more information, visit lifelinebloodserv.org.