United Blood Services in need of blood donors
This is a press release from United Blood Services.
Hattiesburg, MS - Blood supplies across the country remain at dangerously low levels following a severe decline in blood donations leading up to and following the July 4th holiday. In an effort to rebuild both local and national supplies and be prepared for unexpected events, United Blood Services, a Blood Systems blood center, is calling on the community to come forward and give blood this week and throughout the remainder of the summer. United Blood Services strives to keep a 3-day supply of every blood type on the shelf at all times to be able to meet the needs of patients at the more than 50 hospitals we serve. Donations from O-negative donors, the universal blood type, are especially important this time of year due to increased accidents and trauma cases.
The current O-negative blood supply sits at an approximate two-day supply, which is half of the ideal quantity needed to support patient needs. Additionally, platelet donations, which have a shelf-life of only five days, are in high demand after a slow holiday week. However, donors of all types are needed. As part of Blood Systems Blood Services division, United Blood Services is included in a multi-state system of blood centers. This network works in tandem, moving lifesaving donations throughout the system to help ensure blood is available when and where it’s needed most. In July alone, the network is facing shortfall of 5,700 donations, with deficits continuing through August. The significant nationwide decline in donations has led to this coordinated call on the public to donate blood.
“Patients, their families and the more than 1,000 hospitals across our nation that Blood Systems serves depend on us to deliver on our promise to provide a safe and ample blood supply,” said Rob Van Tuyle, president of Blood Systems Blood Services Division. “Don’t take a vacation from blood donation. In about an hour, one donor can save up to three lives by giving blood.” Schedule a donation today and save lives tomorrow United Blood Services urges both existing and first-time donors of all blood types to visit www.bloodhero.com or call 877-827-4376 to schedule an appointment at our Hattiesburg donor center or at a mobile blood drive. Walk-ins are welcome at any of our locations.
To accommodate donors, operating hours at the donor center located at 805 S. 28th Avenue in Hattiesburg, the week of July 10 are as follows:
Monday, July 10: 8:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.Tuesday,
July 11: 10:00 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.Wednesday,
July 12: 8:00 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.Thursday,
July 13: CLOSED Friday,
July 14: 8:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Saturday,
July 15: 8:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.Sunday,
July 16: 11:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Individuals who are 18 years of age (16 and 17 with parental consent), weigh at least 110 pounds and are in general good health may be eligible to donate blood. Headquartered in Memphis, Blood Systems’ Southeast Division consists of Lifeblood operations in Tennessee, Arkansas, Missouri and Mississippi and United Blood Services (UBS) operations throughout South Louisiana, Mississippi and West Alabama. Together, Lifeblood and UBS must collect approximately 2,000 blood donations each week to support patients at nearly 140 hospitals and healthcare facilities. The division includes 10 donor centers and operates an average of 380 blood drives monthly. Blood Systems, one of the nation’s oldest and largest nonprofit community blood service providers, serves more than 100 hospitals across six states to provide comprehensive transfusion medicine services for patients in need.
