CLAY COUNTY – The sight of LifeSouth’s red, white and blue in front of a school or grocery store is nothing new.

Neither is the organization’s desperate need for blood.

Blood assists both routine and life-saving procedures and the area has a critical shortage, a local blood official said.

LifeSouth, the region’s blood distributor, is again calling for donors, citing a low reserve of blood. District Community Development Coordinator James Skahn said summer is usually a lean period for LifeSouth, with more people traveling and summer break.

About a third of blood centers in the Southern U.S. have a zero-to-one day supply of blood available, according to LifeSouth figures. Overall, the state is at a critical level with two days of blood supply available at most, the organization said.

Every trauma center in Clay County relies on LifeSouth’s blood. Skahn said the largest need is more O negative. However, a potential donor shouldn’t be discouraged if their blood type, Ab for instance, is common. Skahn said there’s a need for every blood type.

“We go through it so fast,” Skahn said. “We need all types. It’s a reoccurring need.”

The COVID-19 pandemic adversely impacted some of the steady donors, Skahn added. He said LifeSouth is looking to establish more donors that LifeSouth can rely on to give blood at regular intervals, which is about 56 days between donations.

“There has been a drop since COVID-19,” Skahn said. “We’re still in desperate need for more people.”

Giving blood has a few myths associated with the process. A list of reasons possibly preventing a person's donation such as cancer, contagious diseases or pregnancy can be viewed at lifesouth.org/what-you-need-to-know.

He said he understood the process could be confusing due to Food and Drug Administration regulations that consistently change. A person with diabetes, tattoos and high blood pressure medications can give blood, though they should research donating first.

“With tattoos, you don’t have to wait a year,” Skahn said, referring a common myth. “Right when you get out of the (tattoo artist’s) chair if you wanted to. As long as it's in Florida. It’s well-regulated and there’s no need for concern.”

There are several ways to host a blood drive. He referred to taking LifeSouth’s bus to businesses and, “showing and hoping.” Schools can play a role by hosting drives. The organization can host drives functioning as competition between different offices for no fee.

“It can be a fun way to give back for companies,” Skahn said.

LifeSouth’s Clay County donor center in Fleming Island is located at 1605 County Road 220, Unit 160. Visit lifesouth.org for more information.

For Skahn and millions each year depending on donated blood, the difficulty of acquiring it to save lives is a day-to-day reality.

“It is a life-or-death situation for people,” Skahn said. “Things that would otherwise be treated are put on hold. It’s getting dire and close to that threshold but we’re not at that level yet.”