Lifeline Blood Services Issues Critical Appeal for Type O Negative Blood

JACKSON (February 2) -- Lifeline Blood Services has issued a critical and immediate appeal for Type O negative blood donors as severe weather and hazardous road conditions have sharply reduced donations. More than 14 community blood drives have been canceled, and there have been low donor turnout at Lifeline’s blood donation centers, abruptly cutting off the primary source of lifesaving blood for local hospitals.

Type O negative blood- the universal blood type used most often in trauma and emergency situations- is being depleted at an alarming rate. Compounding the crisis, Lifeline is experiencing difficulty importing blood from blood centers, as they too are facing critical shortages. As a result, local hospitals are now being forced to ration
their O-negative units, prioritizing only the most life-threatening cases.

“Our area has experienced multiple emergencies where transfusions were immediately required, and Type O negative blood was essential. This is not a future concern- this is happening right now. Without immediate donors, patient care will be directly impacted,“ said Melinda Reid, marketing manager with Lifeline Blood Services.

Additionally, Lifeline is offering a “Winter Weather Comeback” promotion until February 7. All donors are entered to win a $250 VISA gift card. Whether you donate on a bloodmobile or at a donation center in Jackson, Dyersburg, or Paris, you will be entered.

This promotion is valid until February 7, and the winner will be
notified on February 9, no donation or purchase required. Additional information is available on lifelinebloodserv.org.

Lifeline Blood Services, located at 183 Sterling Farms Drive, is open Monday through Saturday from 9 a.m. – 6 p.m. The Dyersburg Center (1130 Hwy 51 Bypass, Ste. 19 & 20) and Paris Center (211 Tyson Ave.) have the following operating hours: Sunday through Tuesday 10 a.m. – 6 p.m., Wednesday and Saturday 8 a.m. – 4 p.m., closed Thursday and Friday. No appointment is necessary to donate whole blood.

Lifeline Blood Services is one of the nation’s oldest blood centers. Established in Jackson, Tennessee, in 1947, Lifeline provides blood products to Tennessee, Mississippi, and Arkansas. Servicing hospitals, rehabilitation centers, children’s hospitals, cancer centers, air ambulance services and ground ambulance services. Annually, the Center collects approximately 26,000 blood products (red cell units, platelets, plasma, etc.) to meet the needs of patients. Of that total, 75% of those products are usually collected on bloodmobiles. Lifeline also provides reference lab and cross-matching services to healthcare facilities. For more information, visit lifelinebloodserv.org.