LifeSouth seeking donors to help battle summer blood shortages
Each year, some 5 million Americans would die without life-saving blood transfusions. It’s a shocking figure particularly so when giving blood is such an easy process.
The LifeSouth Community Blood Center on Cortez Boulevard knows what a big difference a donation of blood can make. With more than 20 years of saving lives in Hernando County, the center and its staff is continuing to make sure enough blood is collected not only to supply area hospitals but also in the event of national disasters like hurricanes.
“Every community relies on local blood donations and so do the residents of Hernando County but during the summer months, school is out and many of our regular donors are traveling,” said Tom Davis, “so we know a blood shortage is likely coming,” he said. Davis is the District Community Development Coordinator at LifeSouth – a nonprofit community blood supplier for more than 100 hospitals in Alabama, Florida and Georgia.
“LifeSouth is a community blood center so all donations made at the facility here in Brooksville or at any of the bloodmobiles that are constantly out and about, stay here in the county to benefit our hospitals and residents,” he said.
Most donors see only the inside of a bloodmobile but the center on Cortez Boulevard in Brooksville, sees a steady flow of regular donors – donors who care about their families, friends and neighbors.
Staff at the center includes donor recruiters, phlebotomists and technicians to process blood.
Davis said that approximately 63 percent of the national population cannot donate blood and of the 37 percent that is eligible to donate, less than 10 percent actually donate.
Donors who have O-Negative blood is a big positive. Only 7 percent of the population has this type blood. It is referred to as the “universal blood type.” This means that it can be transfused to patients of any blood type so it is always in high demand, he added.
Most donors donate blood because they want to help others, he said. They are not paid for their donations.
Statistics show that just one donation of blood can save as many as three lives and if all blood donors gave 2 to 4 times a year, it would help prevent blood shortages.
“We are always in need of blood to keep our shelves stocked for any emergency,” said Davis. He donates blood regularly, sometimes giving whole blood and sometimes by apheresis.
Apheresis is a special kind of blood donation where the donor gives only the components of blood needed for certain patients. An instrument similar to a centrifuge separates the components of whole blood. One of the separated portions is then withdrawn and the remaining components are retransfused into the donor. The separated components include plasma, platelets and leukocytes. Platelets collected by apheresis have a very short shelf life, typically five days and are used to help patients with bleeding disorders caused by leukemia and cancer treatment, or open-heart surgery.
Davis said LifeSouth is constantly looking at ways to encourage more donors. Hosting a blood drive is one way to save lives. Local businesses can make an impact by helping provide that critical blood. Working hand in hand with LifeSouth, drives are organized and enjoyable, Drinks, cookies, snacks and a special thank you gift are provided to each donor.
To achieve the goals and to ensure that LifeSouth meets the needs of local hospitals, The LifeSouth Center on Cortez Blvd and the bloodmobiles are open every day of the year with the exception of Thanksgiving and Christmas.
Giving blood takes just under an hour. Donors should be in good health and feeling well. Be at least 17-years-old (16-years-old with parental consent in some states). Weigh at least 110 pounds and have not donated blood in the last 56 days. A valid ID is required.
To obtain the latest bloodmobile schedules or donation hours at LifeSouth Center, call 352-596-2002 or visit http://www.lifesouth.org/drives/blood-mobile-locator/
Sue Quigley can be reached at saffronbleu@hotmail.com or by phone at 727-808-9587. Contact her if you would like your business featured in The Hernando Sun.
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Donating Blood Facts
• 1 blood donation (1 pint) can save up to 3 lives.
• More than 44,000 blood donations are needed every day.
• Every two seconds someone in the U.S. needs blood.
• The average red blood cell transfusion is approximately 3 pints. 
• The blood type most often requested by hospitals is Type O.
• One unit of blood can be separated into several components: red blood cells, plasma, platelets and cryoprecipitate.
• Platelets promote blood clotting and give those with leukemia and other cancers a chance to live.
• Blood or plasma that comes from people who have been paid for it cannot be used for human transfusions.
• The blood used in an emergency is already on the shelves before the event occurs.
• Children being treated for cancer, premature infants and children having heart surgery need blood and platelets from donors of all types, especially type O.
• The #1 reason blood donors say they give is because they “want to help others.”
• More than 1 million new people are diagnosed with cancer each year. Many of them will need blood, sometimes daily, during their chemotherapy treatment.
• A single car accident victim can require as many as 100 pints of blood.
• Only 37 percent of the U.S. population is eligible to donate blood – less than 10 percent do annually.
• Blood cannot be manufactured – it can only come from donors.
• Type O-negative blood can be transfused to patients of all blood types.
• Type AB-positive plasma can be transfused to patients of all other blood types. AB plasma is usually in short supply.
• 1 in 7 of people entering the hospital will need blood.