BWWMH Auxiliary sponsoring blood drive Monday

The Bryan W. Whitfield Memorial Hospital Auxiliary will sponsor their annual Blood Drive on Monday, Feb. 4, from 10:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. in the hospital classroom.

Originally scheduled to be held in two locations that day, the drive has been moved to the BWWMH location only.

Following several accidents in the United Blood Services (UBS) service area, the blood supply is greatly diminished thereby increasing the demand for blood as quickly as possible, according to a UBS representative.

All blood types are needed, especially type O negative and O positive. Of all hospital patients who will need blood, 50 percent will use type O. To donate blood, you must be 17 or older, weigh at least 110 pounds, have not donated in the past eight weeks, and are not currently taking antibiotics.

Also, United Blood Services requires donors to show identification containing a legal name and one of the following: date of birth, social security number, United Blood Services assigned donor number, or photo of the donor. Some types of identification are: driver’s license, UBS donor card, social security card, security badge (picture and donor’s name) and passport.

According to United Blood Services, which serves Marengo, Greene, Hale, Clark, Tuscaloosa, Fayette, Sumter and Pickens counties in West Alabama, along with other facilities in East Mississippi, someone needs blood every three seconds.

These patients may be accident victims, undergoing surgery, or patients receiving treatment for leukemia, cancer and other diseases.

The blood donation process is safe, quick and easy and could help to save a life. All who are eligible are encouraged to give the gift of life on Monday.

For more information or to schedule an appointment to donate, call Chrissy Brooker at 287-2626.