Blood Drives planned across county

From Staff Reports

CASS COUNTY—LifeShare will hold six mobile blood donation sites in Cass County over the next two weeks.

On March 17 a blood drive will be held at the Linden Community Center, 402 N. Kauffman, from 1 to 6 p.m.

For more information, contact Ruth Halleck at 903-799-8841.

There will be two donation sites on March 22.

The first one will be at Stanco Manufacturing, 204 W. Main, from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. For more information call Glenn Howe at 903-796-7936.

The mobile coach will then set up at the Bowie-Cass Electric Co-Op building, 117 North Street in Douglassville, from 1:30 to 5:30 p.m. Cynthia Maxie, 903-846-2311, is the contact for this event.

On March 24, Guardline, 1001 Progress Drive in Atlanta, will host the mobile donor coach from 8:30 to 11:30 a.m. Contact Ashlie Williams at 903-796-4111 for more information.

The coach will then set up at Christus St. Michael Hospital, 1007 S. William, from 1 to 6 p.m. Helen Hughes, 903-799-3176, is the contact for this drive.

On March 31, Lifeshare will be at Queen City’s International Paper facility, 9978 FM 3129, from 12 to 5 p.m.

Contact Nikki Jackson at 903-796-1501 for more information on this drive.

According to LifeShare, the blood donation process generally follows these steps: After you present a photo ID and read the information sheet you will undergo a mini exam (temperature, blood pressure, heart rate, and iron level) and then provide confidential answers to health history questions.

The donation takes place in a comfortable chair. Most donors feel a slight prick when the needle is inserted and nothing after that. 

After the donation, you should sit down and have a snack and beverage. If you experience any light-headedness let your donor technician know and lie down until you feel better. Do not use tobacco products for the next 30 minutes. Leave the arm bandage on and do not engage in strenuous activity or lift heavy objects for the next two to four hours. For the next 24 – 48 hours be sure to increase fluid intake. 

Lifeshare also recommends that before giving blood, make sure that you meet the requirements, get a good night’s sleep, eat regular meals and drink plenty of fluids.

Anyone age sixteen or older, who meets height and weight requirements, is in good health, and meets donation eligibility requirements may give blood. Sixteen-year-olds must present signed permission from a parent or guardian at each blood donation.  Most medications do not interfere with blood donation. Please know the name(s) of your medication(s) and why you are taking them when you come to donate.

If you received your tattoo or body piercing in a state-licensed establishment, you may donate blood two weeks after the procedure and if there is no sign of infection. If you received your tattoo or body piercing from a non-state-licensed establishment, you must wait at least one year. If you received a cosmetic tattoo (for example, permanent eye or lip liner) in a licensed clinical establishment, you may donate blood 72 hours after the procedure and if there is no sign of infection.