July 24, 2007 – The St. Thomas post of the American Legion will host its first blood drive in partnership with the American Red Cross. The two-day drive will be held from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., Tuesday and Wednesday, Aug. 7 and 8, at the Center Court of the Tutu Mall.
Blood Donor Eligibility Guidelines
If you have donated blood in the last eight weeks (56 days) or have made a donation of double red cells in the last 16 weeks (111 days), you are not eligible to donate.
Age: Donor must be at least 16-years-old. If donor is 16 or 17, he or she must present a parental or legal guardian consent form given by the Red Cross. There is no upper age limit for blood donation as long as the person is well and has no restrictions or limitations on activities.
Weight: Donor must weigh at least 110 pounds.
Health: If donor has a flu, fever or cough or is on antibiotics, he or she should wait. In most cases, medications will not disqualify a donor.
Tattoo or Piercing or Electrolysis: Donor should wait 12 months to give blood after tattoos, electrolysis or piercings.
Blood Pressure: High blood pressure is acceptable as long as it is below 180 systolic and below 100 diastolic at the time of donation. Medications for high blood pressure do not disqualify anyone from donating. Low blood pressure is acceptable as long as donor feels well when donating.
Pregnancy or Nursing: Persons who are pregnant or nursing are not eligible to donate blood.
For more information about eligibility, call 1-866-767-8432, ext. 2879.
Donating blood is a simple four-step process: registration and medical history, mini-physical, blood donation and refreshments. The actual time taken to donate blood is typically less than 12 minutes.
"We urge businesses, organizations and the community in general to give life, give love, give blood during this blood drive. You can organize a group in your job or with family and friends to give the gift of life" said Ivana Cruz, public relations and communications director for the American Red Cross Blood Services.
In the U.S., more than 38,000 blood donations are sought every day, and a single car accident victim can require as many as 100 units of blood. And, although 60 percent of the U.S. population is eligible to give blood, only five percent actually commit to doing so. The American Red Cross receives 80 percent of blood donations at mobile drives set up at community organizations, companies, high schools, colleges, places of worship and military installations.
For more information on this blood drive or to organize a group of blood donors, contact the American Legion at 776-4849. For donor eligibility guidelines please visit www.redcross.org.
