November 25, 2009

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - It's a time of giving and a season of sharing.  The UAB Hospital and American Red Cross holiday blood drive, beginning Nov. 30, features a Tree of Life and a non-perishable food drive. Donate blood and hang an ornament on the tree in honor of a loved one. Bring a non-perishable food item to drop off. The food will be distributed to appropriate families by the United Way.

The holiday blood drive will be from November 30 through December 4 at the UAB North Pavilion second floor atrium, corner of 18th Street and Sixth Avenue from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The holidays are a critical time for the region's blood supply as usual donation patterns can be altered due to holiday travel and activities. UAB and the Red Cross are beginning the fourth year of a unique partnership that is working to boost the blood supply by increasing donation and decreasing the amount of blood use required at UAB Hospital. The partnership collected more than 8,000 units of blood at UAB this past year.

UAB ranks in the top five among hospitals supplied by the Red Cross, and it is one of the nation's largest users of blood products. Donors can give blood up to six times a year, every eight weeks. The overall process takes about 45 minutes. The actual blood collection usually takes less than 20 minutes. Donors need to have a photo ID.

Blood products are used during surgery, transplantation, trauma care, difficult pregnancies and cancer treatment. A single patient may require as many as 100 units.