Bryan W. Whitfield Memorial Hospital in Demopolis will sponsor an Emergency Disaster Relief Blood Drive in conjunction with United Blood Services (UBS) on Thursday, May 16 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the UBS mobile unit located in the hospital’s front parking lot.

“After last week’s devastating storms, our employees were very anxious to help in any way possible,” explained Mike Marshall, hospital administrator, “and after speaking with United Blood Services about the blood shortage throughout the area, we felt this would be a wonderful way to help those in need.”

All blood types are needed, especially type O negative and O positive. Of all hospital patients who will need blood, 50 percent will use type O.

To donate blood, you must be 17 or older, weigh at least 110 pounds, have not donated in the past eight weeks, and are not currently taking antibiotics. Also, UBS requires donors to show identification containing a legal name and one of the following: date of birth, social security number, UBS assigned donor number, or photo of the donor. Some types of identification are: driver’s license, UBS donor card, social security card, security badge (picture and donor’s name) and passport. According to UBS, which serves West Alabama and East Mississippi, someone needs blood every three seconds. To schedule an appointment to donate, call 287-2626.