Lifesouth Honors Local Donors During World Blood Donor Days, June 13-15

From The JAX Chamber:

June 12, 2020

Blood donors have played a vital role in the global response to the coronavirus pandemic. Locally, LifeSouth Community Blood Centers celebrates blood donors every day, and especially on World Blood Donor Day (Sunday, June 14, 2020).

World Blood Donor Day was first celebrated in May 2005, during the Fifty-Eighth World Health Assembly. Ministers of health from across the world made a unanimous declaration of commitment and support for voluntary blood donation. The theme for this year’s celebration is Safe Blood Saves Lives — an especially timely message, as blood donors in Northeast Florida have helped LifeSouth provide a safe and stable blood supply for local hospitals, such as Baptist Medical Center Beaches, Baptist Medical Center Jacksonville, Baptist Medical Center Nassau, Baptist Medical Center South, Memorial Hospital, Orange Park Medical Center and Wolfson Children’s Hospital.

From June 13 through June 15, LifeSouth will celebrate World Blood Donor Days by providing all donors with a special edition T-shirt and COVID-19 antibody test. Donors who give at one of LifeSouth’s Northeast Florida donor centers (located at 7840 Baymeadows Way and 800 Prudential Drive, inside Baptist Medical Center Jacksonville) on Monday, June 15 will also receive a $10 e-gift card.

“Over the past several months, blood donors have ensured our local health care heroes have the blood they need to provide life-saving care to patients across Northeast Florida,” said Angie Byrd, District Director of LifeSouth. “Donating blood to a neighbor in need is one of the most selfless and compassionate ways to give back during this time when so many of us want to help our communities.”

LifeSouth encourages Northeast Florida residents to celebrate the spirit of World Blood Donor Day in one of the following ways:

Give Blood. Approximately 37 percent of the U.S. population is eligible to donate, yet less than 10 percent donate annually. Whether you’re a regular or first-time donor, visiting one of LifeSouth’s blood centers or signature red, white and blue bus is a way to make a difference. LifeSouth has remained fully operational as an essential service provider throughout the coronavirus pandemic, and assures all donors that it is safe to give blood.

Donate Convalescent Plasma. If you have recovered from COVID-19, you may be eligible to donate convalescent plasma that can help support the recovery of a local patient. For eligibility criteria and more information, visit lifesouth.bio-linked.org.

Host a Blood Drive. As the reopening of Florida’s economy continues, LifeSouth urges all businesses, organizations, churches and professional groups to consider hosting a blood drive to help ensure a safe and steady supply for local hospitals. LifeSouth provides planning support, donor recognition gifts and snacks to make each drive a success. For more details, contact Karen Patterson at kjpatterson@lifesouth.org.

Share why you donate. One of the most common reasons why people don’t give blood is because they aren’t asked to. Sharing a personal story about why you donate can help encourage another person to donate, as well. Tag @LifeSouth in your story on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram, and use the hashtag #WorldBloodDonorDay.

To find a donor center or blood drive, or to learn more about hosting a blood drive, visit LifeSouth.org.

This press release was produced by the JAX Chamber. The views expressed are the author's own.