Help restock the blood supply for the 4th of July

[June 29, 2007]  SPRINGFIELD -- Blood donations typically decline during the summer vacation season, especially around the holidays. Many people are out of town and are unable to give blood. Yet the number of trauma cases requiring emergency blood transfusions often rises over the summer holidays, including the Fourth of July. Consequently, area hospitals and the Central Illinois Community Blood Center are asking the public to help by donating blood. 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.

To help ensure an adequate blood supply for area hospitals, the Abraham Lincoln Memorial Hospital Auxiliary will sponsor a blood drive on Monday at the Lincoln Masonic Center, 2022 N. Kickapoo in Lincoln. The hours of the blood drive are noon to 6 p.m. For your convenience, please call Tara to sign up toll-free at 1-866-GIVE-BLD (1-866-448-3253), ext. 56, or schedule an appointment online at www.cicbc.org. Walk-ins are also welcome and truly appreciated.

The 2007-2008 Springfield Clinic High School Blood Challenge started May 12. Donate blood in support of Lincoln High School or a participating high school in your community, and should they win the challenge, a graduating senior will receive a $1,000 college scholarship. Until Aug. 20, all donations will give double credit to their mentioned high school, and all donors will be entered into a drawing. A winner will be drawn for an iPod Nano.

It takes only an hour to donate blood, but the benefits last a lifetime for someone. For more information about donating blood or sponsoring a blood drive, please call the blood center at 217-753-1530. For more information about blood drives, blood facts, blood types or to schedule an appointment online please visit www.cicbc.org.

The CICBC donor room, located at 1134 S. Seventh St. in Springfield, is open to collect blood on Mondays and Tuesdays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Wednesdays and Thursdays from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m., Fridays from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Saturdays from 9 a.m. to noon.

The Central Illinois Community Blood Center is a not-for-profit organization that provides blood to 19 area hospitals. Blood collected at these drives is intended for local hospitals. Please give what's in your heart and donate blood.

[Text from news release received from Central Illinois Community Blood Center]