AMERICAN RED CROSS BLOOD DRIVES

FRIDAY, DEC. 2

Hancock Senior High School, 229 West Ripa, St. Louis

8 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Southwestern High School, 8226 Route 111, Piasa, Ill.

8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

Mater Dei High School, 900 North Mater Dei Drive, Breese, Ill.

9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Eureka Fire Training Center, 18765 Old Highway 66, Pacific, Mo.

10:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

Cabelas, 5555 St. Louis Mills Boulevard, Hazelwood

4 p.m. to 8 p.m.

SATURDAY, DEC. 3

Church of Jesus Christ of Latter day Saints, 6740 Loughborough, St. Louis

9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

JCPenney Washington, 5886 Highway 100, Washington, Mo.

11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

SUNDAY, DEC. 4

Florissant Church of Christ, 16460 New Halls Ferry Road, Florissant

8 a.m. to 12 p.m.

St. Ann Catholic Church, 7530 Natural Bridge Road, Normandy

8:45 a.m. to 12:45 p.m.

St. Cecilia Catholic Church, 906 Eichelberger Avenue, St. Louis

9:45 a.m. to 1:45 p.m.

MONDAY, DEC. 5

SIU Edwardsville, 30 Hairpin Drive, Edwardsville

11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Sullivan Community Center, 730 West Main, Sullivan, Mo.

12:45 to 6:30 p.m.

Marthasville Fire Station No. 1, 405 East Main Street, Marthasville, Mo.

2 to 7 p.m.

Silver Creek Elementary, 205 North Dewey Street, Troy, Ill.

2:30 to 6:30 p.m.

Our Lady Queen of Peace, 4696 Notre Dame Lane, House Springs, Mo.

3 to 7 p.m.

Mary Queen of Peace, 676 Lockwood Avenue, St. Louis

3:30 to 7:30 p.m.

American Legion Hall, 504 Luetkenhaus Boulevard, Wentzville

3:30 to 7:30 p.m.

TUESDAY, DEC. 6

Arcadia Valley VoTech, 520 Park Drive, Ironton

9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Bank of America, 100 North Broadway, St. Louis

9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

Christian Hospital Northeast, 11133 Dunn Road, St. Louis

10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

SIU Edwardsville, 30 Hairpin Drive, Edwardsville

11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

St. Luke's Hospital, 222 South Woods Mill Road, Chesterfield

11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

St. Charles County Government, 201 North 2nd Street, St. Charles

11:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

First United Methodist Church, 310 South 2nd Street, Greenville, Ill.

12 to 4 p.m.

All Saints Academy, 345 North Clinton Street, Breese, Ill.

3 to 7 p.m.

WEDNESDAY, DEC. 7

St. Louis County Employees, 121 South Meramec, Clayton

9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Cutting Edge Optronics, 20 Point West, St. Charles

9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Bank of America Plaza, 800 Market Street, St. Louis

10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

West County High School, 768 Highway M, Park Hills, Mo.

1 to 6:30 p.m.

St. Louis Christian College, 1360 Grandview, Florissant

1:30 to 5:30 p.m.

THURSDAY, DEC. 8

Unigroup, One Premier Drive, Fenton

8 a.m. to 2 p.m.

St. Louis County Employees, 121 South Meramec, Clayton

9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Mineral Area Regional Medical Center, 1212 Weber Road, Farmington, Mo.

12 to 4 p.m.

Civic Center, 115 North Macoupin, Gillespie, Ill.

1 to 6 p.m.

Heritage Primary, 612 Blumhoff, Wentzville

4 to 8 p.m.

FRIDAY, DEC. 9

St. Louis College of Health Careers, 1297 North Highway Drive, Fenton

10 a.m. to 7 p.m.

South City Family YMCA, 3150 Sublette Avenue

10 a.m. to 7 p.m.

St. Charles Community College, 4601 Mid Rivers Mall Drive, St Peters

10 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Alton Memorial Hospital, One Memorial Drive

10 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Fox C 6 Service Center, 849 Jeffco Boulevard, Arnold

10 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Union Moose Lodge, Highway 50 & Koelling, Union, Mo.

10 a.m. to 7 p.m.

East Belleville Center YMCA, 2627 Carlyle Avenue, Belleville

10 a.m. to 7:00

Jefferson Regional Med Center, 1400 Highway 61 South, Crystal City

10 a.m. to 7 p.m.

SATURDAY, DEC. 10

St. Louis College of Health Careers, 1297 North Hwy Drive, Fenton

9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

South City Family YMCA, 3150 Sublette Avenue

9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

St. Charles Community College, 4601 Mid Rivers Mall Drive, St. Peters

9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Alton Memorial Hospital, One Memorial Drive, Alton

9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Fox C 6 Service Center, 849 Jeffco Boulevard, Arnold

9 to 5 p.m.

Union Moose Lodge, Highway 50 & Koelling, Union

9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

East Belleville Center YMCA, 2627 Carlyle Avenue, Belleville

9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Jefferson Regional Medical Center, 1400 Highway 61 South, Crystal City

9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

MONDAY, DEC. 12

Fidelity Communications Company, 64 North Clark Street, Sullivan, Mo.

10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

Knights of Columbus, 700 Clearview Drive, Union, Mo.

1:30 to 6:30 p.m.

St. Mary's Parish Center, 101 South Meyer, Valmeyer, Ill.

2 to 7 p.m.

Jefferson County Library, 7479 Metropolitan Boulevard, Barnhart, Mo.

2:30 to 6:30 p.m.

St. Lucas UCC, 11735 Denny Road, St. Louis

3 to 7 p.m.

Carl L. Barton School, 408 South Belleville, Freeburg, Ill.

3 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Trinity Lutheran Church, 14088 Clayton Road, Chesterfield

3 to 7 p.m.

Fort Zumwalt West Middle School, 140 Waterford Crossing, O'Fallon, Mo.

3:30 to 7:30 p.m.

WHO CAN DONATE?

Anyone 17 years of age or older (16 year olds may donate with an American Red Cross parental permission slip), weighing 110 pounds or more and in good health may donate. Call 1-800-448-3543 or visit www.Americanredcrossblood.org to schedule an appointment or to inquire about hosting a blood drive.

Blood supply continues to fluctuate and regular donations, especially of type O negative, are needed to ensure an adequate supply for patients across our region and our nation. Donating is easy, and the Red Cross has some tips to make your experience go smoothly:

Before Donating

· Make an appointment to give blood. Those donors with appointments will be seen at their allotted time and will not have to wait in line.

· Get a good night's sleep.

· Have a good breakfast or lunch.

· Drink extra water and fluids to replace the volume you will donate (avoid tea, coffee, or other beverages with caffeine).

· Eat iron-rich foods (red meat, fish, poultry or liver, beans, iron-fortified cereals, raisins and prunes).

· Avoid fatty foods, such as hamburgers, fries, or ice cream before donating. Tests for infections done on all donated blood can be affected by fatty materials (lipids) that appear in your blood for several hours after eating fatty foods.

During the Donation

· Wear clothing with sleeves that can be raised above the elbow.

· Show the staff any "good veins" that have been used successfully in the past to draw blood.

· Relax.

· Take the time to enjoy a snack and a drink in the refreshments area immediately after donating.

After Donation

· Rehydrate by drinking plenty of fluids over the next 24 to 48 hours.

· Avoid strenuous physical activity or heavy lifting for about five hours after donation.

· If you feel lightheaded, lie down, with feet elevated, until the feeling passes.

· In rare cases when bleeding occurs after removing the bandage, apply pressure to the site and raise your arm until the bleeding stops. If bleeding or bruising occurs under the skin, apply a cold pack to the area periodically during the first 24 hours.

· If for any reason, something doesn't feel right, call the American Red Cross toll free number provided to you after your donation.

· Enjoy the good feeling that comes with knowing that you may have helped saved as many as three lives.