Life-saving blood donations needed in Indiana in September

Versiti Blood Center of Indiana is encouraging Hoosiers to make an appointment in September to donate life-saving blood.

All blood types are needed, especially O-negative blood, which is the universal blood type given to patients in emergency situations and those undergoing surgery. Here are Versiticommunity blood drives scheduled this month in communities across Indiana:

FISHERS
Noon-5 p.m. Sept. 4
Fishers Community Blood Drive at Delaware Township Community Center
9094 E. 131st St.

VEEDERSBURG
10 a.m.-3 p.m. Sept. 5
In Honor of Owen Michael Grubbs
476 W. U.S. 136

PITTSBORO
3-7 p.m. Sept. 8
Pittsboro Community
216 N. Maple St.

MOORESVILLE
1:30-6:30 p.m. Sept. 9
Mooresville Community
50 N. Monroe

CARMEL
8:30 a.m.-12:40 p.m. Sept. 13
St. Mark’s United Methodist Church
4780 E. 126th St.

MUNCIE
9:15 a.m.-3:45 p.m. Sept. 16
Angels for Life at Ball State University
1000 N. McKinley

INDIANAPOLIS
8 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Sept. 16
Community Hospital East
1500 N. Ritter Ave.

FRANKLIN
9 a.m.-12:45 p.m. Sept. 20
Grace United Methodist Church Franklin
1300 E. Adams Dr.

FAIRMOUNT
8:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Sept. 23
Madison-Grant High School
11700 S. E. 99 W

DUGGER
4-7 p.m. Sept. 24
Dugger Union Community School In Honor of Cameron Ellis
843 S. Hicum St.

Hoosiers can also donate blood at any Versiti Blood Center of Indiana donor center:

Indianapolis: 3450 N. Meridian St.
Fishers: 11005 Allisonville Road
Carmel: 726 Adams St., Suite 150
Greenwood: 8739 U.S. 31 South
Terre Haute: 2021 S. Third St.
Lafayette: 2200 Elmwood Ave., Suite D-16

To ensure everyone’s safety during continuing coronavirus concerns, Versiti employees wear face masks or cloth face coverings and are temperature tested before their shifts. Donors are also temperature tested and prescreened before their donation. All donors are asked to wear their own face covering during their appointment.

Social distancing is being practiced at all Versiti blood drives throughout Indiana. Versiti is efficiently cleaning and disinfecting all facilities and equipment at all drives.

Donating blood takes about an hour. Anyone age 17 or older in good health who meets eligibility requirements is encouraged to give. Parental consent is required for donors age 16 to donate blood. Donors should bring a photo ID that includes their birth date.

Appointments are encouraged at any of Versiti’s seven donor centers in Indiana and at any local community blood drive. But walk-ins are always welcome. To schedule an appointment to donate blood, call 317-916-5150 or visit Versiti online.

More than 90,000 Indiana residents each year give blood through Versiti Blood Center of Indiana, formerly Indiana Blood Center, a non-profit organization founded in 1952 that operates blood donation centers in Indianapolis, Fishers, Carmel, Greenwood, Lafayette and Terre Haute. The center also operates thousands of mobile and community blood drives each year throughout the state.