DONORS CAN WIN RACE TICKETS, ENTER DRAWING FOR ALASKA VACATON

(Courtesy Community Blood Center PR)

DAYTON, Ohio – The Eldora Speedway will support the summer blood supply by hosting a blood drive Thursday, June 23 from 2:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. in the Eldora Speedway Ballroom, 13929 State Route 118, New Weston.  Fans can win Eldora Speedway race tickets and gear by registering to donate.  Donors are encouraged to schedule an appointment online at www.DonorTime.com or call 1-800-388-GIVE.

Everyone who registers to donate can enter the grand prize drawing for a pair of Kings Royal Race tickets.  The 33^rd annual  running of the Kings Royal Race is Saturday, July 13.  There will also be several drawing for additional Eldora Speedway tickets and official Eldora Speedway apparel.

Everyone who registers to donate will receive the new “Whale of a Blood Donor” t-shirt featuring a humpback whale and Alaskan mountain range design.  Everyone age 18 and older will also be entered in the Community Blood Center “Wild About Alaska Adventure for Two Summer Blood Drive” drawing to win a custom-designed Alaska vacation for two.

The grand prize includes air travel to Alaska, deluxe accommodations during your week-long stay, and options for a cruise or land travel. The vacation is for the winning donor and a travel companion.

Donors can double their chances of winning by donating early in the summer and becoming eligible to donate again.  They will be entered in the drawing a second time when they register for a second donation during the May 2 through Sept. 3 blood drive period.  Official rules are available at www.givingblood.org.

NEW CHALLENGES TO THE SUMMER BLOOD SUPPLY

The summer of 2016 brings new challenges to maintaining the regional blood supply that go beyond the seasonal disruptions from high schools on break, family vacations, travel, and outdoor activities.  New screening restrictions to protect the health of donors and the safety of the blood supply are impacting the number of people able to donate.

CBC and blood centers across the nation continue to take caution against the Zika virus. Potential donors who have traveled to Zika endemic areas in the Caribbean, Mexico and Central or South America are deferred from donating for 28 days. The restriction is expected to decrease the number of eligible donors by approximately 2.25 percent.

A change in FDA screening regulations went into effect May 23 to protect the health of donors.  A higher hemoglobin level is now required for male donors.  The 12.5 grams per deciliter (g/dl) requirement for donating has increased to 13.0 g/dl for males. (The female requirement remains at 12.5 g/dl).

CBC estimates the new hemoglobin requirement, coupled with stricter pulse screening requirements that also took effect May 23, could have an impact of up to six percent in the donor deferral rate.

Learn more at www.GivingBlood.org

Connect with Community Blood Center for the latest information and services at www.GivingBlood.org. Get fast and complete answers on how to make your first donation, organize a blood drive, or bring our education program to your school. Get all the updates in the CBC/CTS newsroom, find quick links to our social media pages, or schedule your next appointment to donate by connecting to www.DonorTime.com.

Blood donation requirements:  Donors are required to provide a photo ID that includes their full name.  Past CBC donors are also asked to bring their CBC donor ID card.  Donors must be at least 16 years of age (16 years old with parental consent: form available at www.givingblood.org or at CBC branch & blood drive locations), weigh a minimum of 110 pounds, and be in good physical health.  The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) changes blood donor eligibility guidelines periodically.  Individuals with eligibility questions are invited to email canidonate@cbccts.org or call 1(800)388-GIVE. Make an appointment at www.DonorTime.com.

Community Blood Center/Community Tissue Services® is an independent, not-for-profit organization.  Community Blood Center provides blood products to 24 hospitals within a 15-county service area in the Miami (Ohio) and Whitewater (Indiana) Valleys.  For more information about Community Blood Center/Community Tissue Services®, visit www.givingblood.org.