HUNTSVILLE, Ala. (WHNT) — This Halloween, News 19 viewers and community members helped “save the vampires” with our annual blood drive. News 19 partnered with LifeSouth to host the blood drive from 7 a.m. until 4 p.m.
More than 60 people donated blood, generating more than 60 pints. News 19 spoke to several of the donors, each with special reasons for donating.
“I’m one of the few people in my family who’s not in medicine, so this is a way to help” Todd Long said.
“I’ve had family members who have battled different types of illnesses and have needed blood transfusions,” Robin Thompson said.
No matter what their reason for donating is, the facts are simple: blood donations save lives. That’s because there is no substitute for human blood.
“It cannot be synthesized, it is perishable, and so we need a regular supply of it,” Randy Moses with LifeSouth said.
Moses told News 19 that all blood donated through LifeSouth stays right here in our community. “We are the exclusive blood supplier for Huntsville Hospital,” he said. “So anybody going into the whole Huntsville Hospital system, whether it’s for, heaven forbid, trauma, a routine operation, or for cancer treatment, all of that blood comes from LifeSouth.”
Knowing that his donation is making a difference in Huntsville is a big-plus for long-time donor, Todd Long.
“With LifeSouth, you get a text saying ‘Hey we just sent your blood to be used somewhere and I think that’s a really cool thing” Long told News 19. “So it’s a very simple thing you can do but it can literally save someone’s life.”
Long said he’s donated blood to LifeSouth 24 times over the years.
“I started doing it when I was in the military and it’s something I’ve done ever since,” he said.
For others, taking a step onto a LifeSouth Bloodmobile on Friday was a first. Robin Thompson said it was her first time ever donating blood.
“First time, it was an amazing experience,” she said. “The workers are great, they walk you through every step of it.”
With Thompson’s first donation out of the way, she said she plans to donate again in the future.
“We have to give back anyway we can,” she added.
LifeSouth told News 19 that the Holiday Season can be a slow time for blood donation. However, even with fewer donors, the need for blood is still there.
Thankfully, LifeSouth’s Community Blood Donation Center in Madison is open every day of the year except for Thanksgiving and Christmas. You can also find a blood drive near you by clicking here.
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