Residents are invited to celebrate National Blood Donor month by donating blood with the Community Blood Bank and helping to save lives.
All donors in January will also receive a free long-sleeve t-shirt, while supplies last.
This includes donors at a drive scheduled for noon to 5:30 p.m. Monday at St. Bernard Catholic Church, 95 E. Corydon St., Bradford.
Call Shari Jerman at 814-688-3696 to schedule an appointment to donate. Appointments are encouraged to help adhere to social distancing and other safety protocols.
President Richard Nixon proclaimed January 1970 as the first National Blood Donor Month on Dec. 31, 1969, as requested by Senate Joint Resolution 154, to pay tribute to voluntary blood donors and encourage new donors to join.
“Commit to donating blood in 2021 and band together to help patients in need of a life-saving blood transfusion,” said Jaclyn Seymour, community relations specialist for the Community Blood Bank. “Every 2 seconds, someone new needs a life-saving blood transfusion. We are currently in critical need of all blood types, so someone right now needs you.”
The CBB implemented precautionary measures to ensure a safe and healthy environment for all donors, staff and volunteers. Those precautionary measures include: masking of all donors and staff members, temperature checks of all personnel prior to entering the blood drive, extra sanitation measures between every donor and social distancing protocols.
Community Blood Bank partners with hospitals in Northwest Pennsylvania and Western New York to provide blood for patients in need.
Individuals are eligible to give blood if it has been 56 days since their last donation; they are at least 17 years of age (16 with parental consent); weigh at least 110 pounds; have not received a tattoo or body piercing in the past 3 months; are in good general health and do not have a cold or the flu.
Participants must have a valid photo ID in order to donate. Prior to donating, those giving blood should eat a good, solid meal and drink at least 18 ounces of water. For more information or to check eligibility, visit www.fourhearts.org or call (877) 842-0631.
