Blood Donors Sought During Holidays

Hernando County wants your blood. Especially right now.

The holiday season is typically a slow time for blood donations because people are out shopping and making other plans. Normally, giving blood is not high on the list.

But the need is great, according to Ed Keith, branch director for LifeSouth Community Blood Centers, Hernando region.

The demand for blood at the three local hospitals has increased 47 percent from last year.

And while the blood center is keeping pace, that still represents a significant increase, Keith said.

During the holidays, the demand rises because of the increased chance of traffic or household accidents. There has already been an increase in emergency room cases, Keith said.

Especially critical is a need for type O negative, the universal donor anyone can use during an emergency.

Also high on the list is platelet donations. Donors are hooked up to a machine for about two hours and the platelets are separated from the red blood cells.

Fortunately for Hernando County, there is a higher degree of community awareness for blood donations, Keith said.

Nationwide, about 5 percent of the eligible population give blood. Here, it's about 8 percent.

All the blood drawn at the local LifeSouth branch stays within the community unless there is an excess. Then, if the three hospitals don't need it, Hernando County can supply other blood centers within the LifeSouth organization.

"We don't send anything to anybody unless our hospitals are supplied," Keith stressed.

Keith said blood donations can also be used as a gift idea for the holidays.

"What we suggest to people is if they want to do something, give them a card that says, 'I've donated blood in your name to help support the community,'" Keith said.

To donate, the American Red Cross says people must be in good health, be at least 17 years old and have valid photo identification. They must weigh at least 110 pounds and must not have donated whole blood in the last 56 days or double red cells in the last 112 days.

LifeSouth Community Blood Center, at 12395 Cortez Boulevard, is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday, Tuesday and Friday; 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday; 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday; and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday.

For more information or to find out about the promotion going on for blood donors, call LifeSouth at 596-2002.