The Alabama Region is one of 36 American Red Cross regional blood centers whose mission is to fulfill the needs of the American people for the safest, most reliable, most cost-effective  blood, plasma and tissue services through voluntary donations. 

Our blood supply must be constantly replenished --- lives depend upon it!  Blood is a perishable product with a shelf life of only 35 - 42 days.

The Alabama Region provides blood products to over 80% of hospitals in central and northern Alabama.  These hospitals turn to the Red Cross virtually around the clock for blood products, as well as for expert technical and medical support. This Red Cross blood center serves patients in more than 50 hospitals in Etowah, Lawrence, Limestone, Madison, Marshall, Morgan, Shelby, Tuscaloosa, and Walker counties in Alabama.

More than 3000 blood donors are needed in our region each week.  Donors can give blood at any of our blood drives sponsored by business and community groups in Central and Northern Alabama, or at one of sixteen community donor centers.

A strength of the Red Cross is its National Inventory Management System which allows blood to be rushed here from other Red Cross blood centers if Alabama's donations don't keep pace with Alabama's needs.  

Lifesaving blood donations are tested and processed in the Red Cross National Laboratory in Atlanta, GA., before being sent to hospitals.

Hospitals and their patients benefit from an array of transfusion support services including self-donation, interoperative autologous transfusion, the Rare Donor Registry, stem cell and apheresis services.

The American Red Cross is a not-for-profit organization governed nationally by a fifty-member volunteer Board of Governors. Our work is made possible by volunteers , volunteer blood donors, and caring people in the community who organize and sponsor blood drives.

How You Can Save a Life

• Please, don't wait for an emergency to give blood. In central and northern Alabama, you can make your donation at one of sixteen conveniently located donor centers or at blood drives sponsored by community groups or businesses.
• Become a pheresis donor. Pheresis is a special way to give platelets needed by cancer patients.
• Right now, minority donors are desperately needed to join the ranks of generous blood donors, increasing the hope of survival for patients whose only hope may be a transfusion.
• Volunteers, who donate their time and talents, also help save lives.
• Learn CPR, first aid, and how to keep your family safe in central Alabama. Visit the Greater Birmingham Chapter of the American Red Cross.

Get involved. Call 1-800-GIVE LIFE

Learn more about the American Red Cross by visiting the World Wide Web site of the American Red Cross national headquarters in Washington, D.C.