SIDNEY — Area sponsors will host several blood drives in our area this December.
Community Blood Center is thanking donors for being “a force for good” with the “Rogue Blood Donor – A Story of Hope” Star Wars inspired t-shirt, free to everyone who registers to donate. Donors are encouraged to schedule an appointment online at www.DonorTime.com or call 1-800-388-GIVE.
The Star Wars saga, a favorite science fiction fantasy with its enduring theme of hope, returns to the silver screen this holiday season. The “Rogue Blood Donor – a Story of Hope” t-shirt is black with the iconic moon-sized space station in the shape of a blood drop. It’s free to anyone who registers to donate Monday, Dec. 5 through Saturday, Jan. 7 at any CBC Donor Center and most CBC mobile blood drives.
The holiday period can be a challenging time for maintaining the area blood supply. If you must miss an appointment to donate please reschedule when you can.
Area December blood drives include:
Dec. 7: Advanced Composites, Sidney 1-4 p.m., employee blood drive
Dec. 13: Fort Loramie High School, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., student blood drive
Dec. 15: Sidney Apostolic Temple, Sidney, 3-7 p.m., community blood drive
Dec. 20: Sacred Heart Church Activity Center, McCartyville, 12:30-6:30 p.m., community blood drive
Dec. 27: Houston Community Center, Houston, 1-7 p.m., community blood drive
Dec. 28: Senior Center of Sidney, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., community blood drive
The Community Blood Center is honors to recognize the following “Donors for Life”:
50 Donations: Ronald Raterman, Fort Loramie
40 Donations: Lois Bruns, Versailles; Joseph F. Smith, Troy
25 Donations: David Sprang, Belle Center; Darrin Collins, Ada; Eric Heitkamp, New Bremen
20 Donations: Jim Meyer, Coldwater; Lyle Lampy, Jackson Center;Mark Quinter, Celina; Chad Flint, Fort Loramie
10 Donations: Casie Piper, Sidney; Daniel Robinson, Quincy; Wesley Elwood, Columbus Grove
5 Donations: Christopher Shepherd, William Hoersten, Lindsey Elsner, Jacob Schmiesing, Parker Riley, Dylan Arnold, Preston Rodgers, Tatum Compton, Brittney Morris, Sidney; Tonia Johnston, Lima; Katie Gusching, Minster; Travis Brubaker, Troy; Karayln Bowling, Botkins
CBC now testing for Zika virus
Community Blood Center is now testing blood donations for the Zika virus in compliance with recommendations issued by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to protect the blood supply.
In August the FDA recommended universal testing of all donated whole blood and blood components for the Zika virus in the U.S. and its territories. Ohio and Indiana are among the states that were scheduled to begin testing by Nov. 18, 2016 or sooner. CBC began testing Monday, Nov. 14, 2016.
With Zika testing now in place, CBC is no longer deferring donors for travel to Zika endemic areas.
The new Zika testing system is investigational and all donations submitted for testing are part of a research study. By consenting to give blood donors are agreeing to participate in the research study. The results from the study will help develop better testing systems to protect the blood supply.
CBC reminds donors that non-Zika related travel restrictions still apply. They can impact the available blood supply by limiting the number of people able to donate. CBC encourages eligible donors to schedule appointments and donate when able.
Learn more at www.GivingBlood.org
