LifeSouth Community Blood Centers are in need of all blood types.  After last Friday’s declaration of an emergency blood shortage, donors’ response to the news across the region has been encouraging; however, the blood inventory continues to hover at emergency levels.

LifeSouth urges all eligible donors who are feeling healthy to come out and support their communities by donating blood as soon as possible. Donors must be 17 or older, or 16 with parental permission, weigh a minimum of 110 pounds and be in good health. A photo ID is also required.

LifeSouth is hosting a blood drive in Opelika today:

• Walmart of Opelika (Pepperell) from 10 a.m.

The Alabama Department of Public Health (ADPH) and The Alabama Hospital Association (ALAHA) released a report today detailing the decrease in trauma-related deaths in Alabama from 2006-2011, the last full year figures were available. ADPH and ALAHA credited the fact that Alabama established a statewide trauma system in March 2007 with this drop in fatalities.

“We know that about 80 percent of Alabama’s trauma cases are a result of motor vehicle accidents,” Dr. John Campbell, retired State Emergency Services Medical Director, said. “This report shows that our efforts to improve emergency response and treatment have been effective in reducing fatalities due to motor vehicle accidents.”

A trauma system is a coordinated system of care that includes emergency medical technicians, a trauma communications system, hospital emergency department staff, trauma surgeons and other physicians who provide needed surgical and other care.

LifeSouth Community Blood Centers are in need of all blood types.  After last Friday’s declaration of an emergency blood shortage, donors’ response to the news across the region has been encouraging; however, the blood inventory continues to hover at emergency levels.

LifeSouth urges all eligible donors who are feeling healthy to come out and support their communities by donating blood as soon as possible. Donors must be 17 or older, or 16 with parental permission, weigh a minimum of 110 pounds and be in good health. A photo ID is also required.

LifeSouth is hosting a blood drive in Phenix City today:

• Jack Hughston Memorial Hospital from 9 a.m.