SIDNEY – Two blood drives are planned for Sidney in the upcoming week.
The Sidney Masonic Temple will hold a community blood drive Saturday, Feb. 20, from 9 a.m. to noon at 303 E. Poplar St. in celebration of February “love your donor” month.
The Senior Center of Sidney-Shelby County will host a community blood drive Wednesday, Feb. 24, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the meeting room, 304 S. West Ave.
Everyone who registers to donate will receive the Community Blood Center “Love Your Donor – Save Lives Give Blood” T-shirt. Donors are encouraged to schedule an appointment online at www.DonorTime.com or call 800-388-GIVE.
The “Love Your Donor” campaign comes during February’s traditional celebration of St. Valentine’s Day. The T-shirt is a deep blue with a light grey blood drop and the “Love Your Donor” slogan in red and white, painted distressed lettering. The T-shirt is free to anyone who registers to donate Monday, Feb. 1, through Saturday, Feb. 27, at any CBC Donor Center and most CBC mobile blood drives.
February is the heart of winter, a time when weather often disrupts travel and seasonal illnesses interfere with donating. Beginning Monday, Feb. 15, any potential donor who has traveled to Zika virus endemic areas in the Caribbean, Mexico and Central or South America will be deferred from donating for 28 days. This is expected to result in the loss of approximately 2.25 percent of otherwise acceptable donors during the winter months when such travel is more common. Eligible donors are encouraged to make an appointment to donate when able. We especially encourage the continued support of type O whole blood donors and type A/B platelet and plasma donors.
Learn more at www.GivingBlood.org
Connect with Community Blood Center for the latest information and services at www.GivingBlood.org. Get fast and complete answers on how to make your first donation, organize a blood drive, or bring an education program to a school. Get all the updates in the CBC/CTS newsroom, find quick links to our social media pages, or schedule your next appointment to donate by connecting to www.DonorTime.com.
Blood donation requirements: Donors are required to provide a photo ID that includes their full name. Past CBC donors are also asked to bring their CBC donor ID card. Donors must be at least 16 years of age (16 years old with parental consent: form available at www.givingblood.org or at CBC branch & blood drive locations), weigh a minimum of 110 pounds, and be in good physical health. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) changes blood donor eligibility guidelines periodically. Individuals with eligibility questions are invited to email [email protected] or call 800-388-GIVE. Make an appointment at www.DonorTime.com.
Community Blood Center/Community Tissue Services® is an independent, not-for-profit organization. Community Blood Center provides blood products to 24 hospitals within a 15-county service area in the Miami (Ohio) and Whitewater (Indiana) Valleys. For more information about Community Blood Center/Community Tissue Services®, visit www.givingblood.org.
