Prior Lake, Minnesota - You can save a life by giving blood. Registration for the general public is now open for the spring blood drive which will be held March 18, 2008, from noon to 7:00 p.m. The blood drive will be held in the lobby of Dakotah! Sport and Fitness in Prior Lake. For 20 years the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community has sponsored blood drives to help save lives. The Spring Blood Drive is one of three held each year by the SMSC.

More than 90% of Americans will require a blood transfusion for themselves or an immediate family member sometime in their life. Thirty-eight thousand units of blood are needed daily in the United States. Every two seconds someone in America has a need for a blood transfusion. Since blood is perishable and cannot be synthetically created, new donations of all types of blood are needed daily.

It’s easy to give blood. All you have to do is: 1) Sign up; 2) Bring your ID; 3) Donate blood; and 4) Have a snack afterwards. In order to give blood, you need to be healthy, weigh at least 110 pounds, be at least 17 years old, and not have donated blood in the last 56 days. Other health matters are discussed as part of the health history and brief examination. If you have received a tattoo, then you are ineligible to donate for one year. Also, you must not have experienced cold or flu symptoms for three days or more prior to donating blood.

If you are planning to give blood, it is recommended that you get a good night's sleep, eat a healthy breakfast, drink plenty of water (avoid tea, coffee, or pop with caffeine), eat ironrich foods like red meat, fish, poultry, liver, beans, raisins, prunes, or iron-fortified cereals. Be sure and wear clothing that can be raised above the elbow. Afterwards, have a beverage with a snack and avoid strenuous exercise for five hours.

If you would like to make an appointment to give blood during the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community's spring blood drive, please call SMSC Wellness Coordinator Amy Moore at 952-233-2965 to register. A limited number of walk-ins will also be able to donate blood at this blood drive.

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