For Immediate Release                                             For More Information:

June 27, 2012                                                             Communications: 485-3110            

City of Victoria Hosting Summer Blood Drive

(VICTORIA, TEXAS ) Summer is a critical time for blood donations. The City of Victoria is hosting a blood drive and encourages City employees and members of the community to give the gift of life this summer by donating blood to others in need. City employees and the community will have three opportunities to donate blood at three different locations on July 11, 12 & 13, 2012. The blood drive will be held:

Wednesday, July 11
8 am to noon and 1 to 3 pm
LOCATION:  700 Main Center Parking Lot

Thursday, July 12
8 am to noon and 1 to 3 pm
LOCATION: City Hall/Police Dept. parking lot

Friday, July 13
9:30 am to noon and 1 to 3 pm
LOCATION: Fire Station 4, located at Salem Road and Loop 463

Blood donations are critical to saving the lives of others. Each day, the South Texas Blood and Tissue Center needs 600 units of blood to meet the demands of 100 hospitals and clinics in 43 South Texas counties. The Victoria blood bank alone supports 12 surrounding counties. Volunteer blood donors help the South Texas Blood and Tissue Center collect an adequate blood supply for the City of Victoria and beyond.

Those benefitting from blood donations include trauma victims, hemophiliacs, premature infants, cancer patients, open-heart surgery patients, recipients of organ or tissue transplants, those with sickle cell anemia and many others.

Anyone 16 years old weighing 120 pounds (with a parental consent form), or at least 17 years old weighing 110 pounds, and in good general health can donate blood. There is no upper age limit for donation.

Donors must present a valid form of identification, such as a company ID badge, driver’s license, security badge with a photograph and name, passport, yearbook listing with photo, or a bank card or credit card that contains a photograph. Donors are also asked to bring a listing of medications that they are currently taking.

After completing a screening process for eligibility, blood donors will receive a mini-physical consisting of a check of their blood pressure, vital signs and iron level.

If you would like to give the gift of life, please register for the City of Victoria’s Blood Drive by calling Jennifer Sourdellia at 361-485-3109.

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