BOAZ, Ala. (WHNT) — For people injured in accidents, donated blood can mean the difference between life and death. This is why donating blood is such an important process.
The urgent need for blood, mixed with the low supplies, forces blood suppliers like LifeSouth to get creative in the ways that they bring in donors.
The Boaz vs Albertville blood drive is meant to be a light-hearted competition between the two cities. It also serves as a major blood drive for the Sand Mountain area. This is the biggest event the organization holds each year.
Organizers said the goal of this two-day event is to see which city could get the most donations, and it comes at a time when LifeSouth desperately needs blood.
“We used to draw over 100 units a day, so collections have dipped down a little bit, and we’re always trying to do whatever we can to try and get folks more interested and donors more engaged,” Jeremy McConnell, LifeSouth donor organizer.
Each city is offering its employees paid time off in exchange for donating blood.
Organizers said the blood you donate can be separated into three different parts: platelets, plasma and red cells. Each can be transfused to different patients in a hospital.
Donors like Albertville firefighter Evan Henderson said this is why donating blood is important.
“I’m always happy to donate blood, especially being a universal donor. I take pride in the fact that if someone needs that, pretty much anyone can get it,” Henderson said.
Henderson said there are a few things you can do to ease the nerves of giving blood.
“Don’t look at your arm when they’re sticking you, and try to focus on anything else. Drink plenty of juice or water, and eat before you come in. That helps negate the symptoms,” Henderson said.
Despite this effort, the number of donors has gone down, with Boaz getting about 50 donations on Wednesday compared to nearly 80 this time last year.
The blood drive in Albertville will be at the train depot, starting at 7 a.m.
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