Blood shortage reported
The snow and ice storms that shut down schools, public buildings and many businesses and made driving hazardous on roadways across the state last week have triggered an emergency need for blood donors.
“We need people to donate now,” said Tammy Barnes, North Alabama district director for LifeSouth, the largest supplier of blood in Alabama.
“When we say ‘emergency’ we mean our hospitals are not stocked and LifeSouth has little or none of the specific blood products in our inventory,” she added.
“Platelets have a shelf life of only five days and normally we need 20 donors a day to meet the needs of our hospitals. This week with the snow and ice we had only two.”
Anyone 17 and older, or 16 with parental permission, weighing a minimum of 110 pounds and in good health may donate blood.
A photo ID is required to donate.
Blood donor centers in Morgan County are located in Decatur at 1016 SE Somerville Road and 2349 Danville Road SW. They are open Monday-Friday, 9 a.m., to 5 p.m., and Saturday from 9 a.m., to 3 p.m. The Danville Road location is also open on Sunday from 8 a.m. to noon.
