LifeSouth urges regular and first-time donors to give blood as soon as possible because Nicole, which is expected to be a hurricane before making landfall in Florida, will increase the need for donations.

LifeSouth is hosting a series of mobile drives to help ease the blood supply shortage in Florida.

The disease impacts between 90,000 to 100,000 Americans and African Americans make up roughly 70,000 of those cases.

Police officers and firefighters across Northeast Florida are competing all month long to see which department can raise more blood donations at LifeSouth blood donor centers and blood drives.

LifesSouth Community Blood Centers said Friday it is down to a two-day supply of block and in emergency need for donors. It is adding Saturday hours for those who cannot donate during the work week.

The American Red Cross said there is a serious blood shortage nationwide due to an increase in trauma cases, organ transplants and elective surgeries.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Do you bleed for your team? In honor of the annual Florida vs. Georgia football game, LifeSouth is asking Gators and Bulldogs to show support not only for their team, but for local hospitals and their patients, by donating at rivalry-style blood drives on Nov. 5 and Nov. 6. LifeSouth is facing an urgent need for blood donors, especially type O (positive and negative), and is eager to put these two teams' fans to the test and see who will come out on top. All donors will receive a “Bleed for Your Team” T-shirt and a $10 gift card, while supplies last. LifeSouth is also testing all donors for COVID-19 antibodies.

Published: May 24, 2020, 11:00 am Updated: May 24, 2020, 11:36 pmJACKSONVILLE, 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 were primarily relying on retail and smaller businesses, said Karen Patterson, community development coordinator for LifeSouth Community Blood Centers. On Thursday, a LifeSouth bloodmobile was outside Memorial Hospital. Its 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. LifeSouth is a nonprofit community blood bank serving many hospitals in Northeast Florida, including Memorial Hospital, Orange Park Medical Center, Wolfson Childrens Hospital and several Baptist Health locations.

ORANGE PARK, Fla. - The need for blood during and after a hurricane is critical. Orange Park Medical Center hotest an emergency blood drive Saturday in preparation for Hurricane Dorian. According to the hospital, the drive collected quadruple the amount of blood it typically gets. Having extra supply on hand in our community can be lifesaving, said Orange Park Medical Center Emergency Room Physician Dr. Justin Deaton. As a trauma center, we have a constant need for blood supply," Deaton said.