Blood Drives Set for April in Marion Area

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

• 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., Monday, April 2, Drive in Honor of Lt. David Grounds II, 1050 Delaware Ave at the Smith Clinic
• 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., Thursday, April 5, River Valley High School, 4280 Marion-Mt. Gilead Rd.
• Noon to 6 p.m., Monday, April 9, Marion Public Library, 445 E. Church St., second floor meeting room
• 2 p.m. to 7 p.m., Monday, April 9, Harrison Elementary School, 625 Brightwood Dr.
• 2 p.m. to 7 p.m., Tuesday, April 10, US Post Office – Marion, 230 Barks Rd. W.
• 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., Thursday, April 12, American Legion – Harold L. Bradley Post 584, 142 Olney Ave.
• 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., Saturday, April 14, LaRue Baptist Church, 217 N. High St., LaRue
• 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday, April 23, The Ohio State University at Marion & Marion Technical College, 1465 Mt. Vernon Ave., The Alber Student Center Lobby
• 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday, April 23, Marion County Commissioners, 222 W. Center St (Marion County Building)
• 1 p.m. to 6 p.m., Monday, April 30, Marion Catholic Jr-Sr High School, 1001 Mt. Vernon Ave.

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.