June 12, 2009

BIRMINGHAM, Ala- UAB Hospital and the American Red Cross will bring the beach to you this summer with a beach-themed blood drive. The goal is to collect 500 units of blood to augment existing supplies. Blood usage typically goes up in summer and donation usually drops. Donors will be eligible for prizes each day, including trips, gas cards and golf coupons from the Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail.

The blood drive will run Monday, June 29 through Friday, July 3 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the second floor atrium of the UAB Hospital North Pavilion, corner of 18th Street and 6th Avenue.

UAB's Blood Management Initiative has reduced the need for blood products at UAB while boosting donations. This partnership with the American Red Cross has resulted in an improved blood supply outlook in the Birmingham region. However, summer is traditionally a time of increased demand for blood products, while regular donation schedules are often disrupted. 

UAB ranks in the top five of hospitals supplied by the Red Cross, making it one the nation's largest users of blood products. Donors 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. Donors need to have a photo ID.

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.