LifeSouth bloodmobiles to visit Relay for Life sites

MADISON COUNTY – LifeSouth Community Blood Centers will connect Relay for Life participants with a lifesaving option.

LifeSouth employees will staff bloodmobiles at Relay for Life sites. (CONTRIBUTED)

LifeSouth will bring bloodmobiles to three Relay for Life locations so attendants can offer additional support for those fighting cancer.

“Blood donors are welcome at Relay for Life, while hundreds of people in North Alabama walk to show their support for the American Cancer Society,” Tamara Watts said. Watts works as LifeSouth’s community development coordinator for the North Alabama district.

LifeSouth will have bloodmobiles at these locations:

* Flint River Baptist Church, 12945 U.S. 231, Hazel Green — May 2 from 4 to 10 p.m.

* Madison City Schools Stadium, 211 Celtic Drive, Madison — May 9 from 5 to 10 p.m.

* John Hunt Park, 2151 Airport Road SW, Huntsville — May 16 from 5 to 10:30 p.m.

Donors must be at least 17 years old, or 16 years old with parental permission, and weigh a minimum of 110 pounds and be in good health. Donors must present a photo ID. “Blood donors help those patients to live and keep fighting the disease,” Watts said.

Nationally, cancer patients are the largest users of platelets, the key component for clotting. These individuals are the second largest users of oxygen-carrying red blood cells in U.S. hospitals, Watt said.

Hematology and oncology patients use 32 percent of the platelets, more than double any other category, according to America’s Blood Centers. Those same patients use 15 percent of the red blood cells, second only to general medicine that uses 28 percent.

LifeSouth and its donors are the largest supplier of blood products to hospitals in Alabama and supply nearly all of the blood in use at North Alabama hospitals.

LifeSouth’s address in Madison is 8190 Madison Blvd. For more information, call at 256-533-8201, email to trwatts@lifesouth.org or visit lifesouth.org.