Have blood to spare? Donate it starting Jan. 24

The Puget Sound Blood Center will return to Western Washington University to conduct a blood drive from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 24 through Thursday, Jan. 26 at the Viking Union room 565 and at the Mini Mobile located in Red Square near the Humanities Building.

The recent snow has made giving blood all that more important, as supplies are low, says Catharine Vader of Western Prevention and Wellness.

Volunteer donors can aid as many as three patients with only one pint of blood, and it takes 900 donors a day to fill the needed supply in the Puget Sound region alone. The success of the Quarterly Blood Drive -- Western fills 20 percent of the Puget Sound's blood needs on any day of its drive -- ranks Western as one of the largest donor groups in the Puget Sound region.

Donors must be at least 18 years old and weigh at least 110 pounds. There is no wait after a tattoo if it was acquired in Washington, Oregon, California, Idaho or Montana. New and returning donors are welcome, and all are encouraged to bring friends along as well; eat a healthy meal and drink plenty of fluids prior to donating. The entire process takes less than an hour, and free juice and cookies are offered following donation. To avoid a line, come on the first day or early in the morning.

For more information on the Western Blood Drive, please contact Catharine Vader, Western Prevention and Wellness Services, at (360) 650-7557 or Catharine.Vader@wwu.edu.