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Mary Rutan Hospital in Bellefontaine hosts a blood drive from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. Wednesday, June 22, from in the north/south conference room, 205 Palmer Ave.
Everyone who registers will receive the new “Whale of a Blood Donor” T-shirt featuring a humpback whale and Alaskan mountain range design.
Donors age 18 and older also will be entered in the Community Blood Center “Wild About Alaska Adventure for Two Summer Blood Drive” drawing to win a custom-designed Alaska vacation for two. The grand prize includes air travel to Alaska, deluxe accommodations during a week-long stay, and options for a cruise or land travel.
Donors can double their chances of winning by donating early in the summer and becoming eligible to donate again and be entered in the drawing a second time when they register for a second donation through Sept. 3.
Local CBC drives through that date include Mary Rutan Hospital from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. June 22 and Aug. 24, 1:30 to 5;30 p.m. July 6 and Aug. 31 at Green Hills Community, West Liberty, and 1 to 4 p.m. July 13 at the Discovery Center.
Official rules are available at www.givingblood.org. Donors are encouraged to schedule an appointment online at www.DonorTime.com or call 1-800-388-GIVE.
The summer of 2016 brings new challenges to maintaining the regional blood supply that go beyond the seasonal disruptions from high schools on break, family vacations, travel, and outdoor activities. New screening restrictions to protect the health of donors and the safety of the blood supply are impacting the number of people able to donate.
CBC and blood centers across the nation continue to take caution against the Zika virus. Potential donors who have traveled to Zika endemic areas in the Caribbean, Mexico and Central or South America are deferred from donating for 28 days. The restriction is expected to decrease the number of eligible donors by approximately 2.25 percent.
A change in FDA screening regulations went into effect May 23 to protect the health of donors. A higher hemoglobin level is now required for male donors. The 12.5 grams per deciliter (g/dl) requirement for donating has increased to 13.0 g/dl for males. The female requirement remains at 12.5 g/dl.
CBC estimates the new hemoglobin requirement, coupled with stricter pulse screening requirements that also took effect May 23, could have an impact of up to six percent in the donor deferral rate.