The University of Alabama at Birmingham and the American Red Cross will hold a blood drive from May 5-15 with a nod to summer, beaches, boat drinks and Parrotheads. The music of Jimmy Buffet and nonalcoholic margaritas will set the stage for a visit to Donorville. A special, colorful ‘Saving lives in Parrot-ise’ T-shirt will be given to all donors, who will also be entered in daily drawings for a $100 gift card. The drive runs at the UAB Hospital North Pavilion second-floor atrium May 5-10, and at UAB Highlands Hospital on May 13-15.
All blood types are needed. Donors should bring a photo ID. Free parking is available in the North Pavilion parking deck and the UAB Highlands parking lot.
Hours at the North Pavilion, 18th Street and Sixth Avenue North:
Monday, May 5, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.
Tuesday, May 6, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.
Wednesday, May 7, 7 a.m.-2 p.m.
Thursday, May 8, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.
Friday, May 9, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.
Saturday, May 10, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.
Hours at UAB Highlands, 1201 11th Ave. South:
Tuesday, May 13, 9 a.m.-3 p.m.
Wednesday, May 14, 6:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
Thursday, May 15, 11 a.m.-5 p.m.
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, once 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.