Blood drives planned in Batavia, Fairfield, Van Buren County

The Mississippi Valley Regional Blood Center has scheduled several area blood drives.

The Batavia community will host a blood drive 3-6:30 p.m. Feb. 25 at the Batavia Community Senior Center. Donors who last gave blood on or before Dec. 31 are eligible to give at this drive. For appointments, call 800-452-1097 or visit www.bloodcenterimpact.org.

The Van Buren High School National Honor Society will host a community blood drive from 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Feb. 26 in the school gym. Donors who last gave on or before Jan. 1 are eligible to participate again. To donate, contact a member of the National Honor Society.

The Birmingham Lions Club will host a community blood drive from 2:30-6 p.m. Feb. 27 at the Birmingham Lions Building. Donors who last gave on or before Jan. 2 are eligible to give again. For appointments, call Harry Anderson at 319-498-4201.

First United Methodist Church in Fairfield will host a community blood drive from 2-6:30 p.m. March 3 in the church dining room. Donors who last gave blood on or before Jan. 6 are eligible to give again. For appointments, call Melva Dahl at 472-5762.

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 provides blood and blood components to more than 87 hospitals in Iowa, including Jefferson County Health Center in Fairfield and Van Buren County Hospital in Keosauqua and in Illinois, Missouri and Wisconsin.