The community is encouraged to support and give blood throughout the month at LifeSouth’s blood drives.
September is Sickle Cell Awareness Month, and LifeSouth Community Blood Centers is asking the community to give blood throughout the month at its donor centers and scheduled blood drives to support local patients living with sickle cell disease (SCD).
SCD is a genetic blood disorder that is named for the thin, crescent-shaped red blood cells that face more difficulty passing through blood vessels than healthy, disc-shaped red blood cells. Patients with SCD may experience symptoms such as chronic fatigue, recurrent episodes of extreme pain, breathlessness and increased risk of complications such as stroke, liver disease and delayed growth. The CDC reports that SCD affects approximately 100,000 Americans. People living with SCD often need blood transfusions to increase the amount of healthy red blood cells in their bloodstream and lessen the effects of the sickle-shaped cells.
LifeSouth works with local hospitals to match SCD patients with Sickle Cell Heroes – donors whose red blood cells are precisely matched to reduce complications from blood transfusions. The best matches are likely to be found within a patient’s own ethnic group. Hospital partners include Baptist Medical Center Beaches, Baptist Medical Center Jacksonville, Baptist Medical Center Nassau, Baptist Medical Center South, Baptist Medical Center Clay County, HCA Florida Memorial Hospital, HCA Florida Orange Park Hospital, UF Health Jacksonville, UF Health North and Wolfson Children’s Hospital.
Representatives from LifeSouth can be available for interviews throughout September. To ensure availability of spokespeople, please contact Alaina Bundy with Wingard.
WHEN/WHERE:
Donor Centers:
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 Route 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.
Palatka (6003 Crill Ave)
Monday: 9 a.m. – 7 p.m.
Tuesday: 9 a.m. – 7 p.m.
Wednesday: 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Thursday: 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Friday: 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Saturday: 9 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Sunday: 10 a.m. – 3 p.m.
PRESS CONTACT:
Alaina Bundy
Wingard
(904) 305-2054
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About LifeSouth Community Blood Centers:
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. For more resources and information about blood donation, visit donatingblood.org.