Your gift of blood is precious this holiday season

UAB's holiday blood drive begins Monday, Dec. 10.

Because blood supplies are often low during and after the holidays, as usual donation patterns are altered by holiday travel and activities, the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) and the American Red Cross are hosting a special blood drive. The holiday drive begins on Monday, Dec. 10, at the UAB North Pavilion and ends at UAB Highlands Hospital on Dec. 20.

Donors will be eligible for prize giveaways, including a DVD player and other electronic devices, as well as $10 gift certificates to UAB-area businesses. Validated parking is available at the Fourth Avenue parking deck for the North Pavilion drive. Parking is free at UAB Highlands. Donors should bring a photo ID.

The UAB/Red Cross drive is on the second-floor atrium of the UAB North Pavilion, 18th St. and 6th Ave., on Monday, Dec. 10, through Saturday, Dec. 15. It moves to UAB Highlands Hospital, 1201 11th Ave. South, from Tuesday, Dec. 18, through Thursday, Dec. 20.

blood_drive_sHours at the North Pavilion are:

Monday, Dec. 10, 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Tuesday, Dec. 11, 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Wednesday, Dec. 12, 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Thursday, Dec. 13, 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Friday, Dec. 14, 7 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Saturday, Dec. 15, 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Hours at UAB Highlands are:

Tuesday, Dec. 18, 9 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Wednesday, Dec. 19, 6:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
Thursday, Dec. 20, 11 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Nationally, UAB is one of the largest users of blood supplied by the Red Cross. Donors can give blood up to six times a year, every eight weeks. The overall process takes about 45 minutes; 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.