JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – August 31, 2023 – LifeSouth Community Blood Centers is in need of blood donors after Hurricane Idalia to maintain the blood supply at local hospitals.
The storm caused blood drives and blood donor centers to close, resulting in a decline in donations that directly affects the blood supply. LifeSouth urges the community to visit a donor center or a bloodmobile and donate.
LifeSouth supplies blood to 70% of Northeast Florida hospital beds through its service to many regional hospitals, including Baptist Medical Center Beaches, Baptist Medical Center Jacksonville, Baptist Medical Center Nassau, Baptist Medical Center South, HCA Florida Memorial Hospital, HCA Florida Orange Park Hospital, UF Health Jacksonville, UF Health North and Wolfson Children’s Hospital, in addition to the Jacksonville Fire and Rescue Department and LifeFlight. Blood donated with LifeSouth directly helps patients at these hospitals.
If you do not know your blood type or have never given blood before, now is a perfect time to start. Donors must be at least 17 or 16 with parental permission, weigh a minimum of 110 pounds and be in good health. A photo ID is also required.
LifeSouth’s regional donor centers are open; appointments are encouraged, but not required to donate blood. Bloodmobiles will also be out in the coming days – please visit www.lifesouth.org to find a schedule of upcoming blood drives in the area. Donor centers across Jacksonville are located at the addresses below:
Jacksonville Donor Center (7840 Baymeadows Way)
Monday/Tuesday/Thursday/Friday hours: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Wednesday hours: 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Saturday hours: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Fleming Island Donor Center (1605 County Rd. 220, Unit 160)
Wednesday through Friday hours: 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Saturday/Sunday hours: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Julington Creek Donor Center (445 S.R. 13, Suite 25)
Tuesday through Friday hours: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Saturday hours: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
For additional information about donation or to find a blood drive near you, call LifeSouth toll-free at 888-795-2707, visit www.lifesouth.org or download the LifeSouth app. Appointments can also be made online.
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About LifeSouth:
LifeSouth is a non-profit community blood bank serving more than 125 hospitals in Alabama, Florida and Georgia. LifeSouth is committed to meeting the blood supply needs of hospitals and their patients by providing the highest quality blood components and services. The LifeSouth team is dedicated to making sure the blood is there when a patient is in need. To learn more, visit LifeSouth.org or donatingblood.org.