June 25, 2008

UAB and the American Red Cross want to help prevent the usual summer blood shortage experience across Alabama with the second anual LiveSaver Freedom Festival II. 

The drive continues through Thursday, July 3rd, in the second floor lobby of the North Pavilion of UAB Hospital, at the corner of 18th Street and 6th Ave.  Hours are:

Sun, 6-29.......1pm to 7 pm

Mon, 6-30.....1pm to 7pm

Tue, 7-1......1pm to 7pm

Wed, 7-2......1pm to 1pm

Thur, 7-3......7am to 7pm

Media crews should call UAB Media Relations at 934-3884 or page at 934-3411 to arrange an escort to the North Pavilion.

The area's blood supply frequently faces shortages in the summer months. The LiveSaver Freedom Festival II is designed to ensure an adequate blood supply throughout this summer and to encourage area residents to give blood on a regular basis.

More than 80 percent of the blood used in Jefferson County is collected elsewhere in the state or in other states. UAB Hospital alone uses on average 700 units of blood each week. It is ranked in the top five of hospitals supplied by the Red Cross, making it one the nation's largest users of blood products. Red Cross officials say a donor can give blood up to six times a year, every eight weeks. The overall process takes about 45 minutes. The actual blood collection usually takes less than 20 minutes. Officials remind  blood donors to bring a photo ID with them when donating. Blood products are used during surgery, transplantation, trauma care, difficult pregnancies and cancer treatment. It is not unheard of for a single patient to require as many as 100 units.