Base-wide blood drive April 29

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  • Minot Air Force Base Public Affairs
MINOT AIR FORCE BASE, N.D. --  The 5th Maintenance Squadron here is sponsoring a base-wide blood drive beginning April 29.

While all are encouraged to come and donate, there are specific requirments that must be met to ensure safety of all. 

Requirements for giving blood:
 
Must weigh at least 110 lbs, have a military ID AND a list of medications taken in the past month.

DO NOT GIVE BLOOD IF YOU:
-Have cold or Flu like symptoms on day of donations or do not feel well.
-Have taken oral antibiotics in the last day.
-Have had Hepatitis after the age of 11 years.
-Have hepatitis or close contact with a person who has had clinical hepatitis within past 12 months.
-Have a history of cancer in the past 12 months.
-Have had a tattoo (depending on the state/location that the tattoo was applied, needs to be applied in a state that regulates tattoos).12 month deferral
-Accidental needle stick or come in contact w/someone else's blood in the past 12 months.
-Ear/skin piercing & acupuncture procedures performed using single use, sterile or properly heat sterilized equipment are OK.
-Have received a blood transfusion in the last 12 months.
-Have had malaria within the last 3 years or traveled to a malaria risk area within last 12 months. (Iraq, Afghanistan, Korea...) FYI...Guam is OK
-Are or have been pregnant in the past 6 weeks
-Have been treated for Syphilis or gonorrhea in the past 12 months.
-Have used a needle to inject nonprescription drugs (including steroids).
-Are at risk for HIV exposure the virus that causes AIDS.

As of October 28, 2002, United Blood Services will defer blood donors who:
 
-Have traveled to, resided in, Europe* for a total time of 5 or more years, between 1980 and the present:
(including time spent in the UK between 1980 and 1996) 

This is in addition to the travel deferrals implemented May 28th 2002 which pertain to blood donors who: 

-Have traveled to, resided in, the United Kingdom** for a total time of 3 months or more, between 1980 and 1996.
-Are members of the US military (current and former), or civilian employees, or dependents of military employees, who spent a total of 6 months or more on or associated with military bases in BELGIUM, SPAIN, THE NETHERLANDS, GERMANY, PORTUGAL, TURKEY, ITALY OR GREECE between 1980 and 1996; or received a blood transfusion in the UK between 1980 and present.
· *EUROPE includes Albania, Austria, Belgium, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech-Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Republic of Ireland, Italy, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Macedonia, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovak Republic, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom** and Federal Republic of Yugoslavia.
· **The United Kingdom includes England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland, Isle of Man, Gibraltar, the Channel Islands and the Falkland Islands. 

For more information, contact 723-6896 or 723-3500.