Blood Supply Impacted in the Panhandle
Jail Explosion and Flooding Update
(Pensacola, Florida May 1, 2014) The situation in the Panhandle regarding the jail explosion continues to evolve. An earlier report of hospitals needing additional blood for victims is now being scaled back. As patients are evaluated, the blood center has been notified that the hospitals have sufficient blood inventories for the situation.
That said, the severe storms and flooding are making blood collections difficult in the Florida Panhandle. A number of organizations have had to cancel blood drives due to the damage left behind from the torrential rains and flooding.
As a result, OneBlood is enacting additional community drives throughout the area and is urging donors to please stop by one of these drives or visit a OneBlood donor center as soon as possible to donate so the blood inventory in the area can reach appropriate levels.
While all blood types are needed, people with Rh negative type blood are in the highest demand. In addition, platelets donors are also greatly needed.
Community Drives are being held in the following locations:
Thursday, May 1
Walmart Blood Drives from 11am – 4pm at the following locations:
· 1226 Freeport Road, Defuniak Springs FL
· 4965 Highway 90, Milton, FL
· 2650 Creighton Road, Pensacola, FL
· 2951 South Blue Angel Parkway, Pensacola, FL
Friday, May 2
· Healthmark Regional Medical Center, 4419 US Highway 331 South, Defuniak Springs, FL Blood Drive 1pm – 5pm
· Walmart, 1226 Freeport Road, Defuniak Springs, FL Blood Drive 9am – 12pm
· Saufley Field, 250 Rabie Avenue, Pensacola, FL Blood Drive 8am – 2pm
Saturday, May 3
· Walmart, 4965 Highway 90, Milton, FL Blood Drive 12pm – 5pm
Sunday, May 4
· Liberty Church, 2221 South Blue Angel Parkway, Pensacola, FL Blood Drive 8:30am – 1:30pm
· Perdido Bay United Methodist Church ,13660 Innerarity Point Road, Pensacola FL Blood Drive 9am – 12:30pm
· Point Washington United Methodist Church, 12909 Country Road 395 North, Santa Rosa Beach, FL Blood Drive 9:30am – 12:30pm
OneBlood Center locations:
Pensacola 1999 E. Nine Mile Road, Pensacola FL 32514 (850.473.3853)
Thursday and Friday (8:00am – 5:30pm)
Saturday (8:00am-2:00pm)
Sunday (12:00pm-5:00pm)
2209 N. 9th Avenue, Pensacola FL 32503 (850.434.2535)
Thursday (10:00am – 5:30pm)
Friday (8:00am – 5:30pm)
Crestview – 2400 S. Ferdon Blvd. Suite B, Crestview FL 32536 (850.306.2455)
Thursday (10:00am – 5:30pm)
Friday (8:00am – 5:30pm)
Saturday: Closed
Sunday (12:00pm – 5:00pm)
Fort Walton Beach – 405 NE Racetrack Road, Suite 104, Fort Walton Beach, FL 32547 (850.862.4216)
Thursday (10:00am – 5:30pm)
Friday (8:00am – 5:30pm)
Saturday (8:00am – 2:00pm)
Sunday: Closed
Panama City – 2696 MLK Jr. Blvd. Highway 77 N. Panama City FL 32405 (850.785.9398)
Thursday: Closed
Friday (8:00am – 5:30pm)
Saturday (8:00am – 2:00pm)
Sunday: Closed
Blood donations are needed daily to ensure blood is available to deal with planned and unplanned medical needs. Every two seconds someone needs blood. Blood that is donated today will likely be transfused within two to three days. The turn-around is that fast, the need is constant.
Generally healthy people age 16 or older who weigh at least 110 pounds can donate blood. To learn more about the importance of blood donation and how donors can target the power of their blood type visit www.oneblood.org.
This article originally appeared on Santa Rosa Press Gazette: Update: Urgent Need for Blood Donations