Baptist Medical Center Needs Your Help to Combat Holiday Blood Shortages

Contact: Robby Channell, 601-968-5135 rchannell@mbhs.org

Jackson, Miss. – October 25, 2006 – Baptist Medical Center, 1225 North State Street, Jackson, Miss., will join Mississippi Blood Services for a blood drive October 31, November 1 and 2, 2006 in the hospital lobby from 5:30 a.m. until 6:00 p.m.

Typically during the holiday season the hospital sees a shortage in blood supply. “We want to encourage people to keep blood donations on the tops of their minds during this holiday season and go by and donate blood,” said Baptist spokesman Robby Channell.

Baptist alone needs approximately 600 people a month to donate blood just to meet the needs of its patient volume. Blood is needed for cancer patients, surgeries, sick baby transfers and patients with conditions that cause anemia.

Baptist Laboratory Director Pat Herrington added, “Baptist generally is able to maintain an adequate inventory of blood. However O positive and O negative are our greatest need. All types become in short supply during the holidays. This could possibly be because of people traveling, shopping and just not thinking about how crucial blood donation is during this time of year.”

Blood donors must be at least 17 years old and over 110 pounds, and donors can give every 56 days. For more information contact Mississippi Blood Services at 601-981-3232.

Baptist partners with Mississippi Blood Services and United Blood Services to conduct blood drives four times a year at Baptist Medical Center.

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