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Blood Drives

Scheduled blood drives for 2008:

Blood donors must be at least 17 years old, weigh 110 pounds or more, and show photo I.D. Each donor receives a recognition item and cholesterol screening.

All blood drives are held at the North Baldwin Infirmary Wellness Center.

February 12, 2008   7 a.m. – 7 p.m. 

April 15, 2008  7 a.m.- 7 p.m. 

June 17, 2008  7 a.m. – 7 p.m. 

August 19, 2008  7 a.m. – 7 p.m.

October 21, 2008 7 a.m. – 7 p.m. 

Hositals in Baldwin and Mobile counties have joined forces and named a new primary blood provider, LifeSouth Community Blood Center, as the main provider of the coastal Alabama's community blood supply.

North Baldwin Infirmary, along with Mobile Infirmary Medical Center, Infirmary West, Providence Hospital, Springhill Medical Center, Thomas Hospital, USA Children's & Women's Hospital and USA Medical Center, signed an agreement with this new community blood center for the sole purpose of being able to take care of its own.

Prior to partnering with LifeSouth, area hospitals had to work independently to secure blood from Mississippi Blood Services, United Blood Services, Northwest Florida Blood Center, American Red Cross and others. They had to rely on other communities to supply blood needed to treat local patients and others who traveled for medical treatment. So often residents of the coastal Alabama community donated more blood annually than what was actually usded locally and this imbalance in the collections and supply decisions threatened patient safety and treatment.

“The blood collected here will benefit those who need it in our community and will not be shipped to other areas of the state or country as it has been in the past, unless all local needs are met,” John Day, laboratory director at North Baldwin Infirmary said.

“The LifeSouth centers in Mobile and Baldwin counties will allow North Baldwin Infirmary and other hospitals in our area to have blood supply close to home for our very own," Day said. "We will be able to access it quickly when needed.”

North Baldwin Infirmary held its first LifeSouth community blood drive in October 2007, generating 96 units of blood. Additional blood drives were held at the other seven hospitals through November 2007, with hopes of collecting 975 units of blood during the drives.

LifeSouth was founded in 1974 in Gainesville, Fla. and currently serves more than 120 medical facilities in Alabama, Florida and Georgia. It is federally licensed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and a member of the American Association of Blood Banks (AABB), the AABB National Blood Exchange, the AABB Inspection and Accreditation Program, and America's Blood Centers.

"Blood has been defined by the American Association of Blood Banks as a 'national resource'," Day said. "It is a vital lifesaving force. We hope that area churches, schools, businesses and civic organizations will join us by either promoting our blood drives or hosting blood drives with LifeSouth."