Measuring the impact of blood donation. Give blood, save lives at Cedar Key High School and community drive

Cedar Key, FL - What difference can a single donation make? One figure frequently cited is that one pint of blood can save up to three lives, since it can provide three lifesaving products: red blood cells, plasma and platelets. But that only scratches the surface of the impact. Those three people may have children, brothers, sisters or parents. There may be friends, classmates or coworkers, who will all be affected because a life was saved because one person made the decision to donate blood. A one-hour investment of time can have a far-reaching influence. Be a life saver and a life changer, donate blood today.

LifeSouth, Cedar Key High School and Cedar Key Community invite you to be a part of saving lives when they team up to host a blood drive on Friday, April 13. After the high school drive from 9 a.m. until Noon, look for the bloodmobile at City Hall between the hours of 1 p.m. and 5 p.m.

"Seventeen percent of non-donors say `they never thought about it,` as the main reason for not giving," said Michael Ross, donor recruiter for LifeSouth. "We hope everyone will think about saving lives and donate blood at the community drive."

All who donate will receive a LifeSouth backpack and a complimentary cholesterol screening. Donors must be at least 16 years old, weigh 110 pounds or more, and have photo I.D. Sixteen-year-old donors must have signed parental consent. For more information about becoming a donor or about blood drives in your area, call LifeSouth at (888) 795-2707 or visit www.lifesouth.org and www.facebook.com/lifesouth.

LifeSouth is the sole blood supplier for 39 medical facilities in 17 counties in North Central Florida including Shands at UF, the VA Medical Center, and North Florida Regional Medical Center. LifeSouth is a nonprofit, volunteer blood center supplying 128 medical centers in Florida, Alabama and Georgia.