Texas County Memorial Hospital in Houston will host a blood drive from 9 a.m.to 3 p.m. Sept. 8. Community Blood Center of the Ozarks (CBCO) will collect blood donations in the Jayson Gentry Community Safe Room on the TCMH campus, 1333 S. Sam Houston Blvd.
TCMH receives all of its blood supply from CBCO, officials point out, and all blood collected by CBCO stays in the area to be used by Ozark communities, neighbors and families.
The CBCO serves TCMH and 43 other hospitals in 40 different counties. About 250 units of blood are needed each day, say officials, adding that TCMH uses about 400 units of blood each year.
Eligible donors can be anyone at least 16 years old who weighs at least 110 pounds and has not been given blood in the last 56 days. Minors wishing to donate most have parental consent if it is their first time giving blood. All donors must provide photo identification when registering to donate.
Donors will receive an exclusive “Be a Party Animal – Go Wild” blood drive T-shirt and two tickets to Dickerson Park Zoo in Springfield while supplies last, say officials.
Appointments are not required; however, they are strongly encouraged to manage donor flow. To schedule an appointment, call CBCO at 417-227-5006 or go to www.cbco.org/donate-blood.
For more information about the blood drive, contact Jason Mayberry, education director at TCMH, at 417-967-1340 or 866-967-3311. For questions regarding donor eligibility, contact the CBCO at 800-280-5337.
