“LifeSouth officials report the storm could not come at a worse time, as blood supplies are low, and the storm will impact much-needed blood drives across Florida, Georgia and parts of Alabama over the week,” a release from LifeSouth said.

LifeSouth Community Blood Centers is urging the community to donate blood, especially now when the local supply is critically low.

LifeSouth Community Blood Centers, a nonprofit blood bank that serves several Northeast Florida hospitals, has reinstated COVID-19 antibody testing for all eligible blood donors and is asking for those who have recovered from COVID-19 to help save lives by donating convalescent plasma.

LifeSouth Community Blood Centers is encouraging people to give blood during their Back-to-School Blood Drive.

The American Red Cross said there is a serious blood shortage nationwide due to an increase in trauma cases, organ transplants and elective surgeries.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – In honor of National Blood Donor Month, LifeSouth Community Blood Centers is encouraging people to donate blood. LifeSouth said there is a nationwide blood shortage for all blood types, especially type O, amid the pandemic. So we really need those blood donations to come in.”Melissa Brusoe told News4Jax donated blood saved her life. She had a high-risk pregnancy and gave birth to her daughter, Eliyanah, 12 weeks early at Orange Park Medical Center. To donate blood, visit LifeSouth for a list of blood centers and blood drives.

Published: May 24, 2020, 11:00 am Updated: May 24, 2020, 11:36 pmJACKSONVILLE, Fla. LifeSouth is in critical need of blood donations due to the impact of COVID-19. Unfortunately, most of our businesses that have blood drives have been closed due to COVID-19, so were primarily relying on retail and smaller businesses, said Karen Patterson, community development coordinator for LifeSouth Community Blood Centers. On Thursday, a LifeSouth bloodmobile was outside Memorial Hospital. Its very easy to do.When people arrive at a blood drive site to donate, LifeSouth said there are several precautions in place to ensure a safe environment during the coronavirus pandemic. LifeSouth is a nonprofit community blood bank serving many hospitals in Northeast Florida, including Memorial Hospital, Orange Park Medical Center, Wolfson Childrens Hospital and several Baptist Health locations.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - LifeSouth Community Blood Centers on Wednesday asked Northeast Florida residents to donate blood in anticipation of Dorian. LifeSouth, which supplies blood to many area hospitals, anticipates blood supplies will likely drop over the coming weekend. Below is information about upcoming blood drives and donor centers. Blood drivesThursday, Aug. 29: 2 p.m. to 7 p.m. at LA Fitness -- 6000 Lake Gray Blvd. Friday, Aug. 30: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. at Edward Jones -- 1500 Beach Blvd.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - Summer months take a toll on the blood supply, and this year has been especially difficult in Northeast Florida, including Duval County, and across the country, LifeSouth Community Blood Centers said. As blood shortages affect blood centers across the country, LifeSouth faces an emergency need for all blood types and asks community members to donate blood to ensure area hospitals have blood available for patients before it is needed. "Currently, we're in emergency need and that means there's less than a two-day supply of blood on our local hospital shelves," Patterson said Thursday. "We're in need of all blood types, so if you don't know your blood type, that's fine. Before giving blood, donors are advised to drink lots of water, eat a good meal and be well rested.