The Lee Memorial Blood Center is hosting another community blood drive to help meet its weekly blood supply demands.
The blood drive will be held at Coralwood Mall, 2301 Del Prado Blvd., Friday, July 29, from 10 a.m. until 6 p.m., inside suite 690 near JCPenney.
A photo ID is needed for first-time donors. Before donating blood, individuals should be hydrated and eat high fiber foods.
Nancy Hendrick, community relations director of Lee Memorial Blood Center, said those who donate their blood will receive such vital health checks as blood pressure, pulse and temperature reading, hemoglobin reading, non-fasting cholesterol test and blood typing upon.
Donors will receive a blood center gift, a coupon for a 3-day pass at LA Fitness and a discount coupon for Heart and Soul Massage. Those who donate will also be entered into a raffle drawing to win Marquee Theatre tickets and Ice Cream Club gift certificates.
An individual can donate blood every 56 days, which can amount to a total of six times a year, if timed correctly.
Hendrick said LMHS needs 800 units of blood and blood products each week just to sustain the demand, which is an increase of the 600 units it used to need a week to fulfill that demand.
She said the majority of the blood donations goes to the Regional Cancer Center and the Children’s Hospital. The cancer center alone utilizes between 300 to 350 units of blood and blood products a week.
The Lee Memorial Blood Center is experiencing a blood supply shortage, which stems from the departure of winter visitors and school being let out for the summer. The high school students of Lee County make up 30 percent of the blood donations the Lee Memorial Blood Center receives.
The Lee Memorial Blood Center is the sole provider for the Lee Memorial Health System.
For more information about the Lee Memorial Blood Center visit www.lee-memorial.org/bloodcenter/index.asp or call 239-343-2333.