JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – LifeSouth is in critical need of blood donations due to the impact of COVID-19.
“Unfortunately, most of our businesses that have blood drives have been closed due to COVID-19, so we’re primarily relying on retail and smaller businesses,” said Karen Patterson, community development coordinator for LifeSouth Community Blood Centers. “Right now as people are driving more, there are more car accidents, there are surgeries that are getting scheduled, so right now we really need donations.”
LifeSouth needs donors of all blood types, especially Type O and Type B donors.
On Thursday, a LifeSouth bloodmobile was outside Memorial Hospital. Angela Kuehl and her son donated, which she said she does several times a year.
“Giving blood to me is something that is selfless," said Kuehl. “It’s very easy to do.”
When people arrive at a blood drive site to donate, LifeSouth said there are several precautions in place to ensure a safe environment during the coronavirus pandemic. There will be a temperature check, extra cleaning procedures and social distancing requirements.
LifeSouth is a nonprofit community blood bank serving many hospitals in Northeast Florida, including Memorial Hospital, Orange Park Medical Center, Wolfson Children’s Hospital and several Baptist Health locations.
The nonprofit’s donation center is located at 7840 Baymeadows Way. The organization’s bloodmobiles will also be out at several locations this week:
- May 24: Walmart on Blanding Boulevard in Orange Park, 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.
- May 25: Publix at Reedy Branch Commons, 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.
- May 26: Walmart on Collins Road, 12 - 7 p.m.; Lowe’s on Oldfield Crossing Drive, 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.
- May 27: Walmart at 11900 Atlantic Blvd., 12 - 7 p.m.; Publix at Windsor Commons, 3 - 7 p.m.
- May 28: Thompson Ace Hardware on Old St. Augustine Road, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.
- May 29: Walmart in Yulee, 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.
- May 30: Camri Green Apartments on Losco Road, 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.; PetSmart on Wells Road in Orange Park, 10:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.; PetSmart on San Jose Boulevard, 2:30 - 6:30 p.m.
- May 31: Lowe’s on Philips Highway, 10 a.m. - 1 p.m.; Best Buy on Southside Boulevard, 1:45 - 6 p.m.; Dollar Tree on Atlantic Boulevard, 11:30 a.m. - 7 p.m.