Several blood drives are scheduled in the Tyrone area during the upcoming weeks. Giving blood is a safe process, is easy and takes very little time.
On Tuesday, February 28 a blood drive will be held at the Warriors Mark United Methodist Church, 1840 Centre Line Rd., Warriors Mark, from 1 to 7 p.m.
Tyrone First Presbyterian Church in Tyrone will be open for blood donations from 1 to 7 p.m. on Tuesday, March 7.
On Wednesday, March 15, a blood drive is scheduled at the Epworth Manor Multi-purpose chapel from 11:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
The Tyrone Hospital will accept blood donations on Friday, March 17 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. in classroom one.
Then on Saturday, March 18, a drive will be held at the Bald Eagle United Methodist Church from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Finally on Monday, March 20, the Tipton Baptist Church will host a blood drive from noon to 6 p.m.
Individuals may always visit the Altoona Donation Center to give blood. The center is open on Tuesdays from noon to 6 p.m. and is located on Kettle Road, two blocks off E. Pleasant Valley Blvd. Call 941-8386 with questions.
Also, individuals are always able to schedule an appointment by calling 1-800-Give-Life (1-800-448-3543).
The Greater Alleghenies Region of the American Red Cross Blood Services strongly urges anyone who is eligible to give blood to call as soon as possible to schedule an appointment to donate or visit www.redcrosslife.org or www.givelife.org for a schedule of upcoming area blood drives.
All blood types are needed everyday, but the Red Cross is currently experiencing a critical need for type O Negative and A Negative.
Although giving blood takes very little time and about 60 percent of the people in America are eligible to donate blood, only five percent do.
Anyone at least 17-years-of-age, weighing 110 pounds or more and feeling in good health may be eligible to donate blood.
Individuals with donor eligibility questions should call the nursing collections office at 1-800-542-5663.
The Red Cross would also like to remind people that the weight requirement has recently changed. The previous weight was 105 pounds, but donations will no longer be accepted from persons weighing less than 110 pounds. While this affects few donors, the Red Cross wants to get the word out to help prevent confusion at blood collection centers.
“In order to avoid a critical blood shortage, people are encouraged to schedule an appointment or visit a blood drive in their local area,” said Taunia Oechslin, Senior Director, Recruitment, Greater Alleghenies Region.
“Local hospitals and communities could be adversely affected if blood supplies are not replenished on a regular basis,” said Oechslin.
Oechslin said that supplies of type O negative blood, considered universal because it may be transfused to all blood types in an emergency, are already critically low.
“All donors, and especially those with O negative blood, are encouraged to help during this time,” Oechslin said.
