DuBois, PA – Each year on June 14, countries around the globe celebrate World Blood Donor Day. It’s a way of raising awareness about the need for blood donations and a way to thank blood donors for their life-saving gift.
Did you know that every pint of blood that’s donated can save more than three lives? There is always a shortage of blood donations.
Although there are no blood donations scheduled for the day of Blood Donor Day in our area, scroll down for a list of places you can donate in the next few weeks.
- You must be at least 18 but less than 60 and weigh at least 110 pounds.
- Officials will test your hemoglobin count, body temperature and blood pressure at the time of the donation.
- If you have infections or diseases that can be transmitted via blood, you cannot donate.
- You also won’t be able to donate if you’ve had alcohol in the past 48 hours, have injected illegal drugs even once, or if you’ve had surgery recently.
- You can donate blood about every 3 months, or 56 days.
It only takes about 5 or 6 minutes for the actual donation, but the entire process could be longer, about 30 minutes. You’ll be asked a series of questions and given a quick checkup.
While there are no blood donation times today in our area, you can donate at these times and places:
- Tomorrow, June 15, from 1 until 7 p.m. at the DuBois Comfort Suites and DuBois County Club
- On Friday, June 16, you can donate at Penn Highlands DuBois from 10 a.m. until 3:30 p.m.
- A little less than two weeks from now, on Monday, June 26, you can donate at the DuBois Mall from 9 a.m. until 2:30 p.m.
- There are also donation days scheduled in Sykesville and Reynoldsville during July
The Red Cross gets a lot of their donations from schools and colleges, so there is usually an urgent need for blood during the summer months as people leave for vacation. Giving just a pint of blood can prevent a summer shortage and make sure that the donations are there for people when they need it. Please consider donating this summer and saving a life.