Courtesy of LIFELINE Blood Services
LIFELINE Blood Services has released a list of its June 2021 public blood drives.
LIFELINE Blood Services and West Tennessee Healthcare announced Tuesday, May 25, that West Tennessee’s blood supply is again at critically low levels.
“I realize that we have issued more critical appeals in the last fifteen months than ever before, but we have no other choice—our blood supply really is that low,” said Caitlin Roach, Marketing Manager with LIFELINE.
To illustrate the severity of the issue, Monday, May 24, 2021, Jackson-Madison County General Hospital had half the preferred amount of O+ blood on their shelves; LIFELINE had no more to send them and was only able to find six units to import in from another blood center. The shortage is caused by several issues and is a problem nationwide, which hinders LIFELINE’s ability to import blood from other blood centers. From an individual perspective, many donors have fallen out of the habit of giving over the course of the pandemic. Some are still leery about getting out to donate, while others are choosing not to give because masks are still required. Scheduling mobile drives is also an issue. Some industries are not allowing mobile drives at their sites, and others are having to turn LIFELINE away because they do not have enough staff members to allow those who are working to donate on company time. The staffing shortage is impacting LIFELINE as well, as they do not currently have enough staff to ensure that all mobile drives happen once scheduled.
“It seems like everywhere we turn, we hit another roadblock in reaching our donors,” said Roach.
Moreover, the usage of blood across West Tennessee is up. Local hospitals have used 721 more units than this time last year, using 308 more units this April than in April 2020. Add in the fact that LIFELINE is down approximately 750 units for the year, and the problems are clear. “Our hospital volumes have been incredibly high this year, and not just related to COVID-19 patients. Our patients rely on your donations for their care, and we need those donations more than ever. We cannot manufacture blood products, so please consider donating TODAY!” said Deann Thelen, CEO of Jackson-Madison County General Hospital. “This is a critical shortage, and we need everyone to donate in order to save lives. You never know when you will be the one on the receiving end in the hospital needing blood.”
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. However, if you would like to make an appointment, you may text the word “schedule” to 999-777 or, to speak with someone about donating blood, call 731.427.4431, ext. 0.
“Going into a holiday weekend with blood supply levels this low terrifies me,” said Roach. “If you are capable of donating, please do so in the next couple of days. The lives of West Tennesseans are absolutely depending on you.”
“Also, we are especially grateful to Joe Mahan Ford in Paris for donating a 2019 Ford EcoSport for our summer giveaway,” Roach said. “This will begin (now) and run through Labor Day (September 6).”
June’s Community Mobile Blood Drives are listed below:
Tuesday, June 1
- Union City: Baptist Memorial Hospital – 9 am to 12 pm
- Martin: Volunteer Hospital – 2 pm to 5 pm
- Trenton: Gibson Co. Courthouse – 12 pm to 5:30 pm
Wednesday, June 2
- Savannah: TVEC – 12 pm to 6 pm
- Union City: Lowe’s – 1 pm to 6 pm
Thursday, June 3
- Paris: First United Methodist Church – 12 pm to 6 pm
- Huntingdon: Cash Saver – 1 pm to 6 pm
Friday, June 4
- Parsons: Food Giant – 12:30 pm to 5:30 pm
- Martin: First Community Bank – 12:30 pm to 5:30 pm
- Dyer: Food Rite – 12:30 pm to 5:30 pm
Monday, June 7
- Lexington: FUMC – 1 pm to 6 pm
- Alamo: Crockett Co. Courthouse – 1 pm to 6 pm
Tuesday, June 8
- Adamsville: Piggly Wiggly – 1 pm to 6 pm
Wednesday, June 9
- Somerville: First Baptist Church – 12 pm to 6 pm
- Paris: Lowes – 2 pm to 6 pm
Thursday, June 10
- Ripley: Cash Saver – 12:30 pm to 5:30 pm
- Jackson: Kirkland Cancer Center – 12 pm to 4 pm
Friday, June 11
- Camden: FirstBank – 12 pm to 5 pm
- Milan: Save-A-Lot – 1 pm to 6 pm
- Bolivar: Wal-Mart – 1 pm to 6 pm
Sunday, June 13
- Huntingdon: First Baptist Church – 8:30 am to 12:30 pm
Monday, June 14
- Martin: EW James & Sons – 12 pm to 6 pm
- Selmer: Selmer Courthouse – 12 pm to 6 pm
Tuesday, June 15
- Henderson: TCAT – 8:30 am to 11 am; 11:30 am to 2:20 pm
Thursday, June 17
- McKenzie: AHC – 12 pm to 4 pm
- Savannah: Lowe’s – 1 pm to 6 pm
Friday, June 18
- Bradford: Bestway – 12:30 pm to 5:30 pm
- Brownsville: FUMC – 2 pm to 6 pm
Monday, June 21
- Food Rite: Newbern – 12:30 pm to 5:30 pm
- Henderson: Piggly Wiggly – 1 pm to 6 pm
Tuesday, June 22
- Union City: AHC – 11:30 am to 4 pm
Wednesday, June 23
- Paris: TN Valley Community Church – 2 pm to 6 pm
Thursday, June 24
- Dyersburg: First Citizens National Bank – 11 am to 4:30 pm
- Jackson: All-American Theme Drive – 9 am to 6 pm
Friday, June 25
- Dresden: First Community Bank – 12:30 pm to 5:30 pm
- Oakland: First Citizens National Bank – 12:30 pm to 5:30 pm
Saturday, June 26
- Scotts Hill: Piggly Wiggly – 10 am to 2 pm
Monday, June 28
- Union City: EW James & Sons – 1 pm to 7 pm
- Jackson: Wal-Mart South – 12:30 pm to 5:30 pm
Tuesday, June 29
- Jackson: JMCGH Main Entrance – 11 am to 4 pm
- Lexington: Walgreens – 12 pm to 5 pm
Wednesday, June 30
- Trenton: Gibson Co. Library – 10 am to 1 pm
- Milan: Main St. Church of Christ – 3 pm to 6 pm
- Troy: First Baptist Church – 2 pm to 6 pm
- Sharon: First Baptist Church – 2 pm to 6 pm
