By J.R. Tidwell/Editor

A LifeSouth mobile blood donation center visited Verbena High School on May 3.

These buses have made several stops across Chilton County over the last few months.

According to LifeSouth district community development coordinator Melinda Hinds, the summer months are a critical collection time.

“The need for blood never goes away,” she said. “We always have to supply our local hospitals. We need help for the community blood donors, the community heroes.”

Hinds said LifeSouth is in critical need of Type O-negative blood, which can be given in transfusions to donors with any blood type.

All blood types are needed at this time, however.

In order to donate blood, those willing must be: 110 pounds or more, 17 years of age or older (or 16 with parental consent), able to present a current photo ID and in good health and feeling well.

Donations generally take 30-40 minutes.

According to LifeSouth:

• one blood donation (one pint) can save up to three lives.
• every two seconds someone in the U.S. needs blood.
• 1 in 3 people will need a blood transfusion during their lifetime.
• LifeSouth is a community blood center, which means the blood in your community goes to local hospital patients.
• LifeSouth supplies 100 percent of the blood for the following:
• Jackson Hospital
• Baptist South
• Baptist East
• Prattville Baptist
• Elmore Community Hospital in Wetumpka
• Georgiana Hospital
• Bullock County Medical Center
• Crenshaw Community Hospital in Luverne
• Community Hospital in Tallassee
• Monroe County Hospital in Monroeville
• Only 37 percent of the U.S. population is eligible to donate blood – less than 10 percent do annually.

Anyone seeking more information on donating blood or finding a local blood drive coming up may visit lifesouth.org.