Eight Marion Area Blood Drives in February

The American Red Cross will conduct open blood drives at the following Marion County locations this month:

• 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., Friday, February 3, Marion General Hospital – OhioHealth, 1000 McKinley Park Dr., Marion/Morrow Rooms (lower level).
• 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., Saturday, February 4, Prospect Senior Center, 318 N. Elm St., Prospect. This drive is sponsored by the Prospect Lions Club.
• 8 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., Tuesday, February 7, River Valley High School, 4280 Marion-Mount Gilead Rd., Caledonia.
• 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., Thursday, February 9, American Legion – Harold L. Bradley Post 584, 142 Olney Ave.
• 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., Monday, February 13, Ridgedale High School, 3165 Hillman-Ford Rd.
• Noon to 6 p.m., Monday, February 13, Marion Public Library, 445 E. Church St., second floor.
• 1 to 7 p.m., Friday, February 17, First Consolidated Fire District, 115 N. High St., Caledonia.
• Noon to 6 p.m., Monday, February 20, Emanuel Lutheran Church, 241 S. Prospect St.

Appointments for most drives may be arranged by calling, toll-free, 1-800-RED CROSS (800-733-2767). As an alternative, you may book your own appointment for many drives online at www.redcrossblood.org. You may also ask the Marion County Chapter for assistance with setting appointments. Call 740-725-9141, Monday through Thursday, 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Donors who are on time for appointments will be given priority at all drives. Walk-ins and donors with appointments who arrive other than at their scheduled times will be welcomed whenever openings in the schedule permit.

CiCi’s Pizza of Marion continues to reward every Marion County blood donor with a coupon for a free 7” personal “Pizza-to-Go.” Contact the restaurant at 740-386-2191 for complete details.

Every two seconds someone in America needs blood. Blood transfusions are used for trauma victims, heart surgery, organ transplants, women suffering from complications of childbirth, and patients receiving treatment for leukemia, sickle cell disease, cancer and other serious conditions.

The Central Ohio Region of the Red Cross encompasses 27 counties – including Marion County – and assists patients at 41 area hospitals. The region needs approximately 650 donors daily to maintain the supply.

Under normal circumstances, a donor can give one unit of whole blood every 56 days (8 weeks) or double red cells every 112 days (16 weeks).

Individuals who are at least 17 years of age (16 with parental permission in Ohio), who weigh at least 110 pounds, and who are in generally good health may be eligible to donate blood. Donors under age 19 may have to meet additional weight requirements, depending on gender and height. Please bring your Red Cross blood donor card or other form of positive ID when you come to donate.

If you have questions about your eligibility to give blood (such as medications you may be taking, your health history, or the height and weight requirements for donors under 19), please call the American Red Cross Donor Suitability unit, toll-free, at 866-426-0922.

The American Red Cross is a charitable organization, led and supported by volunteers. In addition to collecting, processing and distributing lifesaving blood and blood products, it offers educational programs that promote health and safety. The Red Cross also relays emergency communications between deployed members of the US armed forces and their families and provides related services. Across the country, the organization assists victims of disaster with emergency food, clothing, shelter and other needs. When called upon, it also takes part in international relief and development operations.

Plus, with support – provided in part by United Way of Marion County – Marion County’s Red Cross Chapter engages in local disaster planning, prevention and response.