MADISON – LifeSouth Community Blood Center is in emergency need for blood donors. 

Recent storms and inclement weather have negatively affected the community’s blood supply.

The center needs all blood types. Donors can ensure local hospitals have the blood necessary to help patients suffering from traumas, cancers and chronic illnesses, Eric Franchois said. Franchois is North Alabama District Community Development Coordinator for LIfeSouth.

“We need donors to come in every day and, when we experience a slowdown due to weather, we ask our community to rally and donate blood to help maintain the local blood supply,” LifeSouth District Director Jason Hodges said.

First-time donors are encouraged to try blood donation. LifeSouth asks regular donors to come to a blood drive or blood donor center and bring a friend.

“All donors receive a thank-you gift, and a mini-physical, including blood pressure, temperature, iron level and cholesterol screen,” Franchois said.

Donors must be at least 17 years old. However, 16-year-olds who have parental permission also can donate, if teenager weighs at least 110 pounds and is in good health. A photo I.D. also is required.

LifeSouth has donor centers in Madison, Huntsville, Decatur, Cullman, Florence and Albertville. A blood drive is scheduled for June 9 from 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Car, Truck, Bike and Jeep Show at 6597 Wall Triana.

In addition, LifeSouth’s bloodmobiles will visit numerous locations in coming days. For locations, call LifeSouth toll-free at 888-795-2707 or visit lifesouth.org.

In other outreach, LifeSouth established the Five Points of Life Foundation to educate and raise awareness of the five ways to share life through the donation of blood, apheresis, marrow, cord blood and organ/tissue. “We teach the importance of donation … with Five Points in the Classroom and Five Points of Life Kids Marathons,” Franchois said.

LifeSouth established a public cord blood bank program in 1998 called LifeCord, which has the first of its kind in the Southeast.

LifeSouth’s address in Madison is 8190 Madison Blvd. Office hours are Monday, Wednesday and Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; and Tuesday and Thursday, 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.

For more information, call 256-533-8201, email egfranchois@lifesouth.org or visit lifesouth.org.