Lifeline Blood Services in Jackson urges the community to donate blood

JACKSON, TN (WNBJ) - Lifeline Blood Services is urging everyone in the community to come out and donate blood. Your donation could save a life.

Lifeline Blood Services is experiencing a huge blood shortage right now. The shortage is largely due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Lifeline says the shortage has put added stress on staff and the supply is not enough for the 17 hospitals and 14 ambulances they serve in the area.

“Here at Lifeline, we are down about 750 units so far for the year, which is an astronomical amount of units. We need 525 a week so we are almost two weeks short right now," said Caitlin Roach, the Marketing Manager at Lifeline Blood Services.

Lifeline believes people are so preoccupied with dealing with the pandemic that they have forgotten about how important donating blood is to the community.

“I really think people are out of the habit of giving blood right now. I think that the pandemic changed the way we eat or shop. I know it has for me and so I think that people have to get back in that mindset of hey, this is essential. I’ve got to go do this," said Caitlin Roach, the Marketing Manager at Lifeline Blood Services.

Blood donor Sabrina Anderson believes giving blood is your civic duty and encourages everyone to donate.

“It’s important for people to give back you never know whose life you might save, maybe one of your family members or it may be one of your church members, it could be one of the people in your business. You just never know and you always you want to make sure that you give back when you have a chance too,” said Sabrina Anderson, a blood donor.

You can donate blood at Lifeline Blood Services Monday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Lifeline Blood Services is located at 183 Sterling Farm Drive in Jackson so please go donate.