Blood drives planned

Three blood drives are scheduled in Fairfield.

First United Methodist Church will host a blood drive from 2-6:30 p.m. Monday in the church?s dining room. Donors who last gave on or before July 15 are eligible to give again. For an appointment, call Melva Dahl at 472-5762.

A blood drive is set from 2-7 p.m. Sept. 10 at the Jefferson County Fairgrounds Activity Building. Donors who last gave on or before July 16 are eligible to give again. For an appointment, call 800-452-1097 or visit the website www.bloodcenterimpact.org.

St. Mary Catholic Church will host a blood drive from 2:30-6:30 p.m. Sept. 16 in the church?s parish hall. Donors who last gave on or before July 22 are eligible to give again. For an appointment, call Marianne McGregor at 469-3241.

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; one pint of blood can help save the lives of up to three patients, and one out of every five people

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

The Mississippi Valley Regional Blood Center mobile crew collected 25 pints of blood Aug. 21 at Hope Lutheran Church in Germanville near Brighton.