BY LARRY SMITH
DANVILLE — While shoppers make their last-minute trips Tuesday, officials at the Community Blood Services of Illinois hope they will make a small donation — of blood.
Community Blood Services will conduct an emergency blood drive 7-11 a.m. Tuesday at Provena United Samaritans Medical Center, in Conference Rooms 2 and 3 near the cafeteria. Donors can park in the outpatient lot at the northeast corner of Logan Avenue and Fairchild Street.
The emergency came about when donations fell short earlier this year. There is an urgent need for blood types O positive, O negative, B positive and A negative.
“We didn’t collect as much as we had hoped in earlier drives in the area,” said Melissa Halcome of Community Blood Services. “We had set a goal of 30 pints and we received eight. Other drives did not go as we had hoped. We’ve seen a decline in donations this year and they appear to still be slipping.”
Community Blood Services supplies blood to Provena USMC, Carle Foundation Hospital in Urbana, Provena Covenant Hospital in Champaign, the Sarah Bush Lincoln Health Center in Mattoon and St. Anthony’s Memorial Hospital in Effingham.
“If donations don’t keep up with demand, we have a problem,” Halcome said.
She said the agency typically sees a decline in donations this time of the year.
“People just don’t want to get out when it’s cold,” Halcome said. “And when high schools and colleges are not in session, we can’t conduct blood drives on their campuses.”
Potential donors must be at least 18 years old, weigh at least 110 pounds and be in generally good health. Donors should bring identification that includes a photo of themselves. Donors will be asked to give a health history as they register.
The actual process of donating a pint of blood takes only 5 to 10 minutes, Halcome said. After the blood is collected, the donor will be given a snack and asked to stay for 10 minutes or so to be sure there are no problems.
“We really encourage donors to eat well before they come in,” Halcome said. “They should be sure to drink fluids and keep themselves hydrated. They more you drink, especially water, the more pleasant the donation experience will be.”
Community Blood Services of Illinois operates an office on Liberty Lane in Danville. Its hours are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday and Friday and noon to 6 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays. The office is closed on Wednesdays.
FYI
For information or to schedule an appointment to donate blood Tuesday, call Community Blood Services at (800) 217-GIVE.
