by Carla Saavedra-Santiago
Calling all donors.
OU-COM's COMCorps and the Ping
Center are teaming up again to help replenish Ohio’s dwindling
blood supply by sponsoring a Red Cross Blood Drive, Tuesday,
Jan. 30, at the Ping Center from noon to 6 p.m.
“We really need new donors as
well as those who habitually give to help shore up the blood
supply in Ohio,” says Nancy Schell, director of the
COMCorps program at Community Health Programs, the community
outreach unit of OU-COM.
Central Ohio began the year
with six out of the eight blood types below minimum inventory
and a less than one day supply of Type O negative.
Although the Red Cross has the
least amount of Type O negative, these donors always come
through, says Jeremy Fisher, COMCorps’ coordinator for
the blood drive.
“Type O donors are pretty good
about donating because they seem to be aware that they are
universal donors,” Fisher says.
“Around the Athens area, since
it’s a college town, there aren’t many drives going on during
the holidays or the summer. That’s partly why we do one big
drive in the fall and another one in the winter.”
Each donor will receive a free
ticket to the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium. They may also register
to win a $50 Wal-Mart gift certificate.
Donors should be in good
health, be at least 17 years old and weigh at least 110 pounds.
Photo identification with birth date is required, and donors may
only give blood every 56 days. To sign-up, donors may call (740)
593-2274. They also may e-mail
donatebloodathens@yahoo.com. Walk-ins are always welcome,
too, but appointments are preferred.
A new rule that some may not be
aware of: people may still donate blood even if they have gotten
a tattoo or piercing in the past year, because tattooing
and piercing are now state regulated. People now do not have to
wait a year until they can donate, Fisher says.
And Type O negative donors:
make sure you come through!
- 30 -
News for the week of Jan 22 – Jan 27
