By Sarah Mahan

The Selma Times-Journal

 

Donating blood is one of the few ways people are given the opportunity to save a life. LifeSouth’s Blood Mobile gives residents the ability to donate a few minutes of time — and a pint of blood — in order to make a difference.

LifeSouth Community Blood Center’s Blood Mobile will be at Selma’s Walmart Friday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., as part of LifeSouth’s Kick Off Summer Blood Drive, an initiative taking place at Walmarts across Alabama, Florida and Georgia.

“Schedules change during the summer, and more people travel and chose to do elective surgeries during the summer. This often causes the need for blood to be even higher in the summertime,” Melinda Hinds, LifeSouth’s district community development coordinator, said.

Hinds emphasized the need for blood from all areas near the Montgomery region they serve.

“If you need something major done, like open heart surgery or some type of trauma treatment, they are going to stabilize you at a community hospital and then send you to a major hospital, and LifeSouth supplies 100 percent of those hospitals,” Hinds said. “We do blood drives in [Selma] because residents sometimes need care provided by the large hospitals we support.”

LifeSouth collects blood for several counties and six or seven major hospitals.

“We need to collect right at 500 units every week to supply the Montgomery region. This breaks down to right under 2,000 units of blood a month,” Hinds said.

Hinds said LifeSouth needs all blood types to donate, especially during the high-usage summer season.

“All blood types are always need, but O negative donors are universal donors. We are always in particular need of that blood type.”

In order to donate, residents must be at least 17 years old, weigh at least 110 pounds, and be able to provide picture identification. Those donating also need to eat and drink prior to donating.

“We can’t do it without people volunteering their time. It’s a great way to give back to the community,” Hinds said. “So many places ask for a monetary donation, but this is something that you can give of yourself and make a lifelong impact for someone else. One person can save up to three lives by donating.”