It’s National World Blood Donor Day. Here’s where you can donate in Jacksonville
Today is National World Blood Donor Day—a day when blood banks ramp up resources to get more donors in the door.
One blood drive is taking place at LifeSouth community blood in Jacksonville. James Skahn with LifeSouth says the time they need blood is before an emergency, not after.
Skahn told Action News Jax Tuesday that having regular donors is vital to the work LifeSouth and others are doing because the need is always there. “Every two seconds someone needs blood. I encourage people who can’t make it out today to come to one of these drives one of these days.”
There are a number of reasons why people need blood. The Red Cross says blood transfusions are given to people in a wide range of circumstances, including serious injuries, surgeries, childbirth, anemia, blood disorders, cancer treatments, and many others.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) says donating just one unit of blood can save the lives of up to three lives.
WHO CAN DONATE
In most states, donors must be 17 or older to donate whole blood. Donors must weigh at least 110 lbs and be in good health. For those with chronic conditions such as diabetes, the condition must be treated and under control.
You can read more about additional eligibility requirements here.
HOW OFTEN CAN SOMEONE DONATE?
The Red Cross says donors must wait 8 weeks between whole blood donations, at least 7 days between platelet donations, and at least 16 weeks between Power Red donations—an automated process that separates red blood cells from other blood components, returning plasma and platelets to the donor.
WHY YOUR BLOOD TYPE MATTERS
A lot of people don’t know their blood type or why it’s important.
There are four major blood groups determined by the presence or absence of two antigens. There are four ABO types: A, B, AB, and O.
Your blood type is also determined by Rh status: Rh+ or Rh-, making eight possible blood types: A-, A+, B-, B+, O-, O+, AB-, and AB+. Doctors say each of these eight types is unique.
When your body is in need of a blood transfusion, the best blood type to receive is your own blood type. But in emergencies, Type O-negative blood — which only about 7% of individuals have — can be given to people of any blood type.
O- blood is also vital for premature babies and cancer patients, according to OneBlood.
Donors with AB+ blood are called the universal plasma donor because this component can be transfused into any patient regardless of blood type.
Read more about the power of your blood type here.
WHERE TO DONATE
Blood Donor Program — Florida - Mayo Clinic
Hemarus Plasma Donation Center
STAY UPDATED: Download the Action News Jax app for live updates on breaking stories
