MADISON –LifeSouth Community Blood Centers encourage residents to celebrate World Blood Donor Day on June 14.

LifeSouth’s campaign, named “Give Where You Live,” is promoting global donations. The campaign started June 12 and will continue through June 18.

“There isn’t a day that goes by that blood donors don’t make a difference saving lives. Globally, 108 million blood donations are collected … half of these are in high-income countries,” Eric Franchois said. He works as District Community Development Coordinator for LifeSouth in Madison.

“Blood donation by one percent of the population can meet a nation’s most basic requirements for blood,” Franchois said. “In 62 countries, workers collect 100 percent of their blood supply from voluntary, unpaid blood donors.”

Blood donors may not stand out in a crowd to the average individual but are vital as “the first responders at any accident,” he said. Franchois gave statistics to prove this point:

* One patient in seven entering a hospital will need blood.

* More than 4.5 million patients need blood every year in the United States and Canada.

* ‘Snow birds,’ or individuals who live in the South during winter months, are faithful donors while they live here but headed home long ago.

* High school students who helped the community by donating at blood drives at their schools are now on summer vacation.

“Summer vacations and travel mean many of those who regularly step aboard a bloodmobile or into LifeSouth’s donor centers aren’t around to help,” Franchois said.

Fewer than 40 percent of Americans can donate blood, and fewer than 10 percent of those who can donate actually do. “That’s why every donor is so important. It’s also why, if just a few more people step up in the summertime, it can have a huge impact,” Franchois said.

During the campaign, donors will receive limited edition-bandages featuring cities around the world, while supplies last.

For information on being a blood donor, call 888-795-2707.

LifeSouth’s address is 8190 Madison Blvd. For more information, call 256-533-8201, email egfranchois@lifesouth.org or visit lifesouth.org.