The University of Alabama at Birmingham and American Red Cross say February is for lovers and blood donors with a Valentine’s-themed blood drive from Feb. 8-24 at UAB Hospital and UAB Highlands.
The drive offers free T-shirts for donors, drawings for gift cards and other prizes. All blood types are needed.
UAB North Pavilion, 18th Street and Sixth Avenue South
- Monday, Feb. 8, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.
- Tuesday, Feb. 9, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.
- Wednesday, Feb. 10, 7 a.m.-1 p.m.
- Thursday, Feb. 11, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.
- Friday, Feb. 12, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.
- Saturday, Feb. 13, 10 a.m.-3 p.m.
UAB Highlands, 1201 11th Ave. South
- Tuesday, Feb. 23, 9 a.m.-2 p.m.
- Wednesday, Feb. 24, 12-5 p.m.
Donors should bring a photo ID. Free parking is available in the North Pavilion parking deck and the UAB Highlands parking lot. Reserve your appointment at www.redcross.org; sponsor codes are UABNP or UAB Highlands.
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.