Blood drive today        

[AUG. 7, 2006]  SPRINGFIELD -- Ah, summertime is here. There is more sunshine, more time to relax, more fun outside and, yes, a bigger demand for blood. An opportunity to donate in Lincoln is from noon to 6 p.m. today (Monday) at the Masonic Center, 2022 N. Kickapoo.

This Central Illinois Community Blood Center blood drive is sponsored by Lincoln Christian Church. To sign up, please call Tara Tyler toll-free at 1-866-GIVE-BLD [1-866-448-3253], ext. 56. In addition, walk-ins are always welcome and sincerely appreciated.

Historically, blood usage is up and donations are down in the summer. People are traveling and busy with their families, and since high schools are closed there is limited participation from students, who provide about 15 percent of the blood supply annually. Unfortunately, with more vacation travel come more auto accidents that involve patients who may require blood. With the increased use of blood over the summer holiday weekends, blood centers need to restock the hospital shelves. Please take an hour of your time and donate blood.

The Central Illinois Community Blood Center is the blood provider to 19 area hospitals in central and southern Illinois. Blood collected at CICBC blood drives is intended for local hospitals.

We never know when a family member may be taken to the hospital and need a lifesaving blood transfusion. You can help protect your family, friends and community by taking a few minutes to donate blood.

Of course, blood transfusions are needed every day by a variety of people in local hospitals. Cancer patients, surgical patients, and even mothers and babies in maternity wards may need lifesaving transfusions. So please, become a regular blood donor. It takes only an hour, but the benefits last a lifetime.

"By donating blood, the average person has the chance to save another person's life," said Lindsay Spears, donor recruiter for the blood center. "What could be more important?"

For more information about donating blood or sponsoring a blood drive, please call CICBC at 217-753-1530. For information about blood drives, blood facts, blood types and other information, please visit www.cicbc.org.

Please give what's in your heart. Donate blood.

[Central Illinois Community Blood Center news release]