Hoof Prints

On May 6, the Inland Northwest Blood Center (INBC) is coming to the Lind-Ritzville High School. The Blood Drive is sponsored by Lind-Ritzville Honor Society and is located in the Gilson Gym. It starts at 11 a.m. and ends at 3 p.m. High school students should remember that they can put this down as community service on scholarship and job applications. You must be at least 16 years old to donate, and 16 and 17-year-old donors need to fill out a completed INBC Minor Donor Consent form. You need to be in good health: this includes being free of any cold or flu symptoms.

There are three ways to donate: whole blood, double red blood cell, platelet and plasma.

Whole blood requires donors to weigh at least 110 pounds, and you must ensure that it has been 56 days since your last whole blood donation and that you have not donated six times this year.

Double red blood cell donation requires male donors to be at least 130 pounds and at least 5’1’’ and female donors need to be at least 150 pounds and at least 5’5’’. You must also ensure that it has been at least 112 days since your last donation and that you have not donated three times this year.

Platelet and plasma donors need to weigh at least 110 pounds and you must ensure that it has been 28 days since your last donation and that you have not donated 24 times this year.

If you take allergy medications (including shots), antidepressants, birth control, blood pressure medications, have had cancer, diabetes, had a recent flu shot, are living or traveling outside the U.S., take prescription medications, or have a tattoo and/or piercing, then you may not be eligible to donate.

If you have any questions, call an Inland Northwest Blood Center donor care specialist at 800-423-0151.

If you are a student that has recently gotten a tattoo and/or piercing, and have been denied previously for donation, then you can still donate if you go and talk to Kerry Murphy before the blood drive. If you have had hepatitis or jaundice after age 11, then you will not be eligible to donate.

Please, donate on May 6. You can make a difference in someone’s life.