VALDOSTA, GA (WALB) - This week is National Blood Donation week and in South Georgia, workers are spending their Labor Day helping save lives.
LifeSouth Community Blood Center has a bloodmobile currently hanging around Valdosta.
In July, the Red Cross declared that there was an emergency blood shortage.
LifeSouth is trying to do its part and if you ride past a bloodmobile, they want to encourage you to help save lives as well.
"When you come and donate with us, you know that your blood is staying local. It’s saving people, your family, your friends, sister, brother, cousin," said Donor Recruiter Thomas Hightower. "This bus basically goes around the community on a day-to-day basis, just to collect the needs of the hospital."
Nicknamed "Bloody Mary," the bloodmobile could be coming to your neighborhood.
"A lot of people that donate blood are usually at work, so we can go to them and collect their blood on a day-to-day basis for them," said Hightower.
And the community could be suffering without your donation.
"For everyone one donation, you save three lives. So, it’s important because this community is in such dire need. We need people to come out and donate," said Hightower.
And with your help, you can save so many who may be suffering.
"Anyone could be saved with low iron. We have cancer patients that need transfusions. We have heart patients. We have actual pregnant women that give birth," said Hightower. "We always give something to the people, whether it’s a t-shirt, a novelty item. Once you donate with LifeSouth, you’re a part of the family."
And that family may need your help, especially if your blood type is O negative.
"We’re absolutely in short of everything right now. I always tell everyone that the universal donor is O negative. I call it liquid gold. It saves everybody," said Hightower.
If you’re over the age of 17 or 16 with a consenting parent, you can also donate
"Come out and help the community. Without them, we cannot be successful. We need their help," said Hightower.
For more information on where the bloodmobile will be in the future, click here.
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