The University of Alabama at Birmingham and the American Red Cross are holding a major blood drive in honor of military veterans and first responders. The drive runs from Feb. 26-March 6 at UAB Hospital and UAB Highlands.
The blood supply is perishable and needs to be continually replenished. All blood types are urgently needed.
The drive offers free T-shirts for donors and a daily drawing for gift cards and gift baskets.
UAB North Pavilion, 18th Street and Sixth Avenue South
- Monday, Feb. 26, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.
- Tuesday, Feb. 27, 7 a.m.-2 p.m.
- Wednesday, Feb. 28, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.
- Thursday, March 1, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.
- Friday, March 2, 7 a.m.-2 p.m.
UAB Highlands, 1201 11th Avenue South
- Monday, March 5, 1:30-6:30 p.m.
- Tuesday, March 6, 9 a.m.-3 p.m.
Donors should bring a photo ID. Reserve your appointment at www.redcrossblood.org; sponsor codes are UABNP or UABHIGHLANDS.
UAB is one of the largest users nationally of blood supplied by the Red Cross. Donors can give blood up to six times a year, every eight weeks. The process takes about 45 minutes; the actual blood collection usually takes less than 20 minutes.
Blood products are used during surgery, transplantation, trauma care, difficult pregnancies and cancer treatment. It is not unheard-of for a single patient to require as many as 100 units.