Severe Storms Stall Blood Donations
TUPELO – On the heals of an already slow Easter weekend for blood donations, the tornados and severe storms in NE Mississippi and NW Alabama have left United Blood Services’ shelves bare. Blood drives cancelled in anticipation of severe weather and schools scheduled to host blood drives next week have been crippled from high winds and tornados and also cancelled. Yet the need for blood remains.
“We understand the difficulties donors experience when dealing with weather of this nature,” says Harry Brown, UBS Center Director for the Tupelo location. “Many other responsibilities can take priority. The fact is that we still need our community to rally to supply our hospitals with blood to save lives.”
All blood types are welcome with O-positive, O-negative, B-positive and A-negative most urgently needed. “And our platelet stock is suffering as well.” Platelets are used for many treatments, including for those undergoing chemotherapy. Their shelf life is very short — only 5 days — whereas whole blood units can last 42 days.
Donors are welcome to make appointments online at www.UnitedBloodServices.org or by calling 662-842-8871. The Tupelo center at 4326 S. Eason Blvd. is open everyday with extra staff to accommodate walk-ins. Its hours are as follows:
|
Monday, Tuesday and Thursday |
11 a.m. |
7 p.m. |
|
Wednesday and Friday |
9 a.m. |
5 p.m. |
|
Saturday |
8 a.m. |
2 p.m. |
|
Sunday |
Noon |
6 p.m. |
For those who hesitate to travel, blood mobiles are out in the community and also open to the public. By calling the number above, donors can ask for blood mobile locations. Also, donors could consider joining with friends and family to donate together. It only takes an hour of one’s time to save the lives of three people.
United Blood Services has been this area’s nonprofit community blood provider since 1975, and serves patients in 22 hospitals in North MS and NW AL. The United Blood Services network is one of the nation’s oldest and largest nonprofit blood service organizations, and is a founding member of America ’s Blood Centers and the AABB (formerly the American Association of Blood Banks).
Donors are asked to bring a photo ID and donor card every time they donate. First-time donors will receive a card with their blood type in the mail shortly after their first donation. Additional height/weight requirements apply to donors 22 and younger, and donors who are 16 must have signed permission from a parent or guardian.
