LAWRENCEBURG — Dearborn County Hospital’s next blood drive, in association with the Hoxworth Blood Center of Cincinnati, will be on Thursday, September 4, from 8:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. in the conference rooms of the hospital, 600 Wilson Creek Road, Lawrenceburg.
“Local blood donors ensure that patients at 30 area hospitals receive the lifesaving blood products they need to survive,” stated Alecia Lipton, Hoxworth Community Relations Manager. “Community blood drives are vitally important and we hope to see a good turnout at DCH.”
“Hoxworth’s motto is ‘Our donors save lives. Who will you save?’” added Pam Puterbaugh, R.N., DCH Occupational Health Nurse.
A donor must be 17 years of age or older (16 years of age with the appropriate signed parental consent form) and weigh at least 110 pounds. Donors must wait a minimum of eight weeks between blood donations or 16 weeks if they have participated in the automated double red cell donation. Women who are pregnant may not donate. Persons who have been tattooed in the State of Indiana must wait 12 months from the date of tattooing to donate.
Persons who have tested HIV positive, injected themselves with illegal drugs or who participate in high risk behavior are prohibited from donating. Individuals who had viral hepatitis after age 11 or a hepatitis B or hepatitis C virus infection at any age also are disqualified from donating. Cancer and malaria survivors, persons who had a heart attack and those with heart disease should phone Hoxworth for information regarding allowances for donating.
Blood donors should eat a well-balanced meal within four hours prior to donating and drink plenty of water. They must bring a form of photo identification, such as a driver’s license or employee badge, with them to the drive.
Individuals can maximize their donation by giving “Double Reds.” The process of Automated Red Cell Collection is designed to make the most of donations. Please call the Hoxworth Nursing Department at (800) 265-1515, ext. 81304, for additional information on donating Double Reds.
