Retreat from the heat and help area patients in need of blood at the same time.
Medic Regional Blood Center brings its air-conditioned mobile unit to Pellissippi State Community College on Tuesday, July 6. Pellissippi State faculty, staff and students will be participating, and the public is encouraged to donate blood as well.
Summer can be a difficult time to meet demand for blood products, since many residents are on vacation or consider uncomfortably warm weather a barrier to donating. But regardless of the season, Medic must collect blood from 250-300 donors every day of the workweek in order to keep up with demand. The organization serves 29 hospitals within a 21-county region. There is a need for all blood types.
Donors must be at least 17 years of age and weigh at least 110 pounds. They should not have fasted prior to arriving. In fact, Medic suggests that donors eat a high-protein, low-fat meal within four hours before donating blood. All who donate are asked to provide positive identification to Medic personnel at the site.
In return for giving blood, Medic will give each donor a coupon for a free Chick-fil-A sandwich.
Event hours are 8:30 a.m.-4 p.m. The mobile unit will be parked in the F-1 lot at the Pellissippi Campus, 10915 Hardin Valley Road. For additional information, contact Carolyn Carson at (865) 694-6554 or ccarson@pstcc.edu.