The non-profit organization LifeSouth is working to combat a critical blood shortage in hospitals as COVID-19 hospitalizations rapidly increase and blood supply levels continue to drop.

Health officials believe coronavirus has made people more fearful of donating blood, and it's a situation LifeSouth is hoping to change through emergency blood drives.

Jennifer Rulon, with LifeSouth in Baldwin County, said 76 people donated blood in the parking lot of Baldwin EMC in Summerdale on Thursday.

"We kind of got hit hard by hurricane season this year, and with COVID. We're typically low around the holidays in general, so going into that already in a shortage, we just really need everyone's help," said Rulon.

Rulon said there's a critical need for all blood types and that donations from each person who showed up can save several lives.

"We take it back to our components laboratory where it's separated into red cells, platelets and plasma. Those three components can serve different functions, so we say you can save up to three lives in our local community," Rulon said.

Barbara Brown donated blood on Thursday after spending more than 40 years in healthcare.

"It's always important. There's never enough blood. There's always a need, and I'm just trying to make a difference in another person's life," said Brown.

Jeff St. Clair, President and CEO of Springhill Medical Center, said his doctors and nurses have seen the shortage firsthand.

"People are a little trepidatious about going to give blood. It's safe. They practice all the same preventative measures that a hospital or doctor's office would practice," St. Clair said.

LifeSouth conducts temperature checks, requires masks and social distancing, and disinfects between donations.

Each donor is also screened by LifeSouth for COVID-19 antibodies.

"If you have had COVID, we'd like to know because you could typically donate convalescent plasma and possibly help save someone who is fighting COVID," said Rulon, "We're just never going to stop coming out into the community and providing blood to our local hospitals."

LifeSouth will hold another emergency blood drive at the Wharf in Orange Beach and at the Foley Piggly Wiggly on Saturday.

The non-profit also has locations on Hillcrest Road in Mobile and Capital Drive in Daphne.