On Jan. 21 the Centerville campus is hosting a community blood drive.
Run by the Versiti Blood Center of Ohio, the blood drive will happen on 5800 Clyo Road and will last from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Donors can register ahead of time, but walk-ins are also welcome.
Trained professionals will walk participants through the process, who will be tangibly helping their local community and saving lives. Healthy individuals who are at least 16 years old and weigh at least 110 pounds are eligible to donate blood.
Donating is important because blood cannot be manufactured, and blood saves lives every minute of every day. In addition blood shortages do happen, and while there isn’t a blood shortage in the U.S. at the time of writing that could change suddenly without warning.
Not only does donating blood save lives and help the donor’s community, but ultimately it is in their own best interest to contribute. If a person lives to the age of 72 or longer there is approximately a 90% chance that at some point during their life they will need a blood transfusion.
Interested donors who are unable to attend this specific blood drive can join plenty of other drives run by Versiti. January is National Blood Donors’ Month, making it the perfect time to give back and get the year off to a good start, both for the donor and their community.
Erik Larson, reporter