Upcoming area blood drives

The Mississippi Valley Regional Blood Center has announced the following upcoming blood drives:

Wednesday, Oct. 31, 12:30 to 3:30 p.m., Sunrise Terrace Care Center blood drive: Sunrise Terrace Care Center hobby room, 706 W. Central Avenue, Winfield. Donors who last gave blood on or before Sept. 5 are eligible to donate. To make an appointment, call Dana Kuisle at 319-257-3303 x118.

Thursday, Nov. 1, 3 to 7 p.m., Mt. Pleasant Community High School blood drive: MPCHS commons, 2401 S. Grand Avenue, Mt. Peasant. Donors who last gave blood on or before Sept. 6 are eligible to donate. To make an appointment, call Mike Wilson at 319-385-7700.

Potential donors must be at least 17 years of age (16 with parental permission form available through www.bloodcenter.org) and weigh more than 110 pounds. A photo I.D. or MVRBC Donor Card is required to donate.

Blood donation is a safe, simple procedure that takes about 45 minutes to one hour. Individuals with diabetes or controlled high blood pressure may be accepted as eligible donors.

Mississippi Valley Regional Blood Center is the provider of blood and blood components to 81 hospitals in Illinois, Iowa, Missouri and Wisconsin. For a list of hospitals in this area, visit http://www.bloodcenter.org/about-us/service-hospitals.aspx.