Blood drive set at fairgrounds

A Mississippi Valley Regional Blood Center blood drive is planned from 2-7 p.m. Feb. 11 at the Jefferson County Fairgrounds Activity Building.

Donors who last gave on or before Dec. 17 are eligible to participate again.

To donate, call the Ottumwa Telerecruitment Department at 800-452-1097 or visit the website www.bloodcenterimpact.org.

Eligible donors must be at least 17 years of age ? or 16 with a signed parental permission form available at www.bloodcenter.org ? and weigh more than 110 pounds. A person with diabetes or controlled high blood pressure can be accepted as an eligible donor. A photo identification or Mississippi Valley Regional Blood Center donor card is required to donate.

According to blood center officials, blood donation is a safe, simple procedure that takes about 45-60 minutes.

The Mississippi Valley Regional Blood Center is the exclusive provider of blood and blood components to Jefferson County Health Center and the Van Buren County Hospital. It provides blood and blood components to more than 87 hospitals in Iowa, Illinois, Missouri and Wisconsin.