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Community Blood Bank blood drive will be held April 7

WESTFIELD — A The Community Blood Bank blood drive will be held from noon to 9 p.m. Friday, April 9, in the Westfield Memorial Hospital parking lot.

Call 814-456-4206 schedule an appointment to donate or visit www.fourhearts.org. Appointments are encouraged to help adhere to social distancing and other safety protocols.

Community Blood Bank officials said current blood supply levels are critically low. The COVID-19 pandemic continues to add an additional stress on the already strained blood supply. Due to the ongoing pandemic, around 30% of the Community Blood Bank’s blood drive partners are forced to cancel their routine blood drives.

“It’s imperative we continue to make up for those lost units of blood,” said Kathy Hastings, mobile drive coordinator for the Community Blood Bank. “These cancellations are forcing us to stretch our donor base very thin. In addition to our current donors, we need new donors and people who have not donated in a while to come give blood at the blood drives that are able to go on as planned to help restore the local blood supply to adequate levels.”

Donors in April are automatically entered into a weekly drawing for a $100 Home Improvement Store gift card. Donors can also receive a Proud Blood Donor yard sign to show their support and help encourage new donors.

Precautionary measures to ensure a safe and healthy environment for all donors, staff and volunteers include: all donors and staff members are required to wear masks, temperatures of all personnel at the blood collection location are taken prior to entering the blood drive, extra sanitation measures are taken in between every donor and donors are to adhere to social distancing protocols.

Community Blood Bank partners with hospitals in Northwest Pennsylvania and Western New York to provide blood for patients in need. Individuals are eligible to give blood if it has been 56 days since their last donation; they are at least 17 years of age (16 with parental consent); weigh at least 110 pounds; have not received a tattoo or body piercing in the past three months; are in good general health and do not have a cold or the flu. Donors must have a valid photo identification in order to donate. Prior to donating, those giving blood should eat a good, solid meal and drink at least 18 ounces of water.

For more information, visit www.fourhearts.org or call 877-842-0631.

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