JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – May 9, 2023 – As Mother’s Day approaches on Sunday, May 12, LifeSouth Community Blood Centers is celebrating those who give the gift of life — including blood donors who play a vital role in maternal health.
According to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, approximately 11% of maternal deaths in the United States can be attributed to postpartum hemorrhage. Between 54-93% of these deaths may be preventable with proper identification and treatment, including blood transfusions.
LifeSouth is aiming to raise awareness toward maternal blood loss in an effort to ensure blood is available to support a safe delivery experience. Below are three ways blood donors can honor those who give the gift of life:
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- Donate blood.
- From now until May 31, all donors who give at a LifeSouth donor center or blood drive will receive a $20 e-gift card.
- If a donor gives a
- double
- red cell donation or a
- platelet
- donation, they will receive an additional $20 e-gift
- card for their generosity. All donors who visit a donor center will be given
- a postcard to send to a loved one in honor of their donation.
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- Host a blood drive.
- LifeSouth regularly partners with neighborhood groups, churches, community organizations
- and local businesses to plan and host blood drives. For more information, contact LifeSouth Community Blood Centers District Community Development Coordinator James Skahn at
- jlskahn@lifesouth.org.
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- Consider cord blood donation.
- Mothers who deliver a healthy, single baby at a participating LifeSouth Cord Blood hospital may be eligible to donate cord blood to the
- LifeSouth
- Cord Blood Bank. Cord blood is rich with blood-forming stem cells that can
- help patients in need of a stem cell transplant. Cord blood transplants can help treat more than 80 blood cancers, genetic diseases and immune system and metabolic disorders, including leukemia, lymphoma and sickle cell anemia. Cord blood units that meet transfusion
- criteria are added to the international registry and made available to patients all over the world.
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Donor centers across Northeast Florida are located at the below addresses, and information on mobile blood drives happening across the region can be found at www.lifesouth.org.
Northeast Florida Headquarters (7840 Baymeadows Way)
Sunday: Closed
Monday: 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Tuesday: 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Wednesday: 11 a.m. - 7 p.m.
Thursday: 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Friday: 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Saturday: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Fleming Island (1605 County Rd. 220, Suite 160)
Monday: Closed
Tuesday: Closed
Wednesday: 11 a.m. - 7 p.m.
Thursday: 11 a.m. - 7 p.m.
Friday: 11 a.m. - 7 p.m.
Saturday: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Sunday: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Julington Creek (445 S.R. 13 N., Suite 25)
Sunday: Closed
Monday: Closed
Tuesday: 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.
Wednesday: 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.
Thursday: 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.
Friday: Friday: 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.
Saturday: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.
St. Augustine (292 State Rte 312)
Sunday: Closed
Monday: Closed
Tuesday: 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.
Wednesday: 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.
Thursday: 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.
Friday: 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.
Saturday: 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.
Celebrating its 50th anniversary this year, 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. These hospitals rely on LifeSouth and LifeSouth blood donors to make sure blood is available before it is needed. All blood types are asked to donate now to ensure local hospitals have the blood needed to help patients suffering from traumas, cancers and chronic illnesses.
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 150 hospitals in Alabama, Florida, Georgia and Tennessee. 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.