LifeSouth faces critical blood shortage in Alabama, urges O-negative donors to step up

MONTGOMERY, Ala. (WSFA) - Blood supplies across Alabama have dropped to critical levels, with reserves of life-saving Type O-negative blood falling below a single-day supply, according to LifeSouth Community Blood Centers.While the blood bank typically aims to maintain a three- to five-day reserve, LifeSouth officials say inventory has reached an uncomfortably low level. “We are actually right below a one-day supply in our O-negative, and we’re looking at a two- and three-day supply for all of our other blood types,” said Melinda Hinds, recruitment manager for LifeSouth. “That is not a comfortable place to be.”Hinds noted that O-negative donors have what amounts to a superpower during medical emergencies. Because O-negative red blood cells lack antigens that trigger harmful immune responses in incompatible recipients, the blood can safely be transfused to patients of any blood type when seconds count and doctors do not have time to cross-match.“If you were born with O-negative blood, y