The “charitable” state has fallen short of its expectations inone area in recent months, and now the effects are becomingevident.

Blood banks throughout the state are almost empty, and emergencypersonnel are asking residents to help fill them again.

“The whole state of Mississippi has a shortage,” said EmmaColeman, lab manager at King’s Daughters Medical Center (KDMC). “Weonly have approximately one-fourth of the inventory that we usuallykeep in-house.”

Eligible donors can contribute to the effort to bring thosenumbers up by giving blood at the Mississippi Blood Services (MBS)mobile unit that will be set up at KDMC’s education annex from 1-6p.m. Monday.

“Brookhaven residents are outstanding blood donors, and we hopethey’ll continue that,” said Dani Edmonson, communications managerat MBS. “Pint by pint, everyone who can needs to give blood.”

Donors must be at least 17 years old and weigh over 109 pounds.Edmonson explained that many people do not donate because they donot understand the restrictions.

“A lot of people think if they’re on medicine, they can’t giveblood, but they can,” she said, encouraging all eligible donors toroll their sleeves up.

Edmonson pointed out how only four percent of Mississippiansdonate when 65 percent are eligible. The national average is fivepercent.

The lack of blood has already started affecting hospitals acrossthe state, with many having to reschedule elective surgeries andperform emergency transfusions only.

KDMC continues to handle its case load, but emergency personnelsay a trauma could be costly without enough blood on hand.

“It generally takes about an hour and a half to get blood here,”said Coleman.

People scheduled to undergo surgery are encouraged to donateblood or have family members donate blood ahead of time to makesure enough blood is available for the procedure.

“Going into this summer has been worse than we’ve everexperienced,” said Edmonson, adding that a July 4th weekend couldbe critical for the blood supply.