Emergency call for blood donations

GAINESVILLE - Both agencies involved in blood collection for northeast Georgia have issued emergency calls for donors.

American Red Cross spokeswoman Kristen Stancil said her organization has about half the blood supply it did this time last year.

"Right now the local blood supply is at extremely low levels," Stancil said.

The unusual Spring we've had has made getting blood tough for the agency.

"Unseasonably warm weather means that a lot of people are taking vacations earlier and getting their Summer activities started earlier, and they're not making time to donate.

The Fourth of July falling in the middle of the week means fewer drives coming up.

"Many of our sponsors, especially businesses, aren't able to hold blood drives as they normally would, because of the extended vacation," Stancil added.

20 percent of the organization's collections come from high school and college students, according to Stancil. Those donations aren't reliable during the Summer season.

LifeSouth Community Blood Centers also has issued an emergency call for donors.

"When we say 'emergency' we mean our hospitals are not stocked, and LifeSouth has little or none of specific blood products in our inventory," Sidonia Gause, District Director of Life South for Georgia said.



Life South Community Blood Center

1200 McEver Road Extension
Gainesville
770-538-0500


Upcoming LifeSouth events in northeast Georgia

June 25
Ellijay 11am-5pm Ingle's 100 Old Orchard Rd
Gainesville 10am-4pm Gainseville State College Activities Building

June 26
Oakwood 11am-7pm Wal-Mart Mundy Mill @ I-985
Blairsville 12N-6pm Blairsville Community 43 Hwy 515 Blairsville Bypass
Gainesville 11am-5pm USAF Recruiting 975 Dawsonville Hwy

June 28
Maysville 4:30-8:30pm 1702 Grove level Rd
Cumming 1-5pm Wal-Mart 1500 Marketplace Blvd

June 29
Winder 9am-5pm Barrow Regional Medical Center 316 N Broad St
Dahlonega 2-7pm Dahl Chiropractic Life 131 Mechanic St

June 30
Dahlonega 9:30am-3:30pm Chick-fil-A 488 Morrison Moore Pkwy
Cumming 9am-5pm Cumming Community @ Big Lots 580 Atlanta Rd



Gainesville Red Cross blood donation center
311 Jesse Jewell Pkwy, SW, Suite 102
Gainesville
1-800-RED CROSS

Upcoming American Red Cross events in northeast Georgia


First Baptist Church (25 Church Street, Cleveland) blood drive on Tuesday, June 26 from 12:30-6:00pm

Starbucks (906 Buford Highway, Cumming) blood drive on Thursday, June 28 from 8:00am-12:00pm

Northside Hospital (1200 Northside Forsyth Drive, Cumming) blood drive on Monday, July 2 from 12:00-5:00pm

Mall of Georgia (3333 Buford Drive, Buford) blood drive on Tuesday, July 3 from 12:00-5:00pm

Mall of Georgia (3333 Buford Drive, Buford) blood drive on Wednesday, July 4 from 12:00-5:00pm

Mall of Georgia (3333 Buford Drive, Buford) blood drive on Thursday, July 5 from 12:00-5:00pm

Cumming Service Center Family Life Center (133 Samaritan Drive, Cumming) blood drive on Friday, July 6 from 11:00am-4:00pm

Winder First United Methodist Church (280 North Broad Street, Winder) blood drive on Friday, July 6 from 12:30-5:30pm

Link: LifeSouth
Link: American Red Cross