Since you can’t get blood from a turnip, the Southeast Area Farmers’ Market is signing up blood donors! Michigan Blood will be on hand for a community blood drive at the Gerald R Ford Market location market from 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Saturday, October 26.

You may be eligible to give blood every 56 days if you are a healthy person age 17 or older (or 16 with parent’s/guardian’s consent), weighing 110 pounds or more. See more guidelines below. We are asking volunteers  to sign up by Oct. 19 contacting market manager, Kristin Blood.

Did you know?

• One pint of blood can help several people.
• Blood platelets promote blood clotting and can give people with leukemia and other cancers a chance to live.
• Healthy bone marrow makes red cells, plasma and platelets constantly.
• Sickle cell disease is an inherited disease that affects more than 80,000 people in the US, 98 percent of whom are of African descent.
• Many patients with severe sickle cell disease receive blood transfusions every month.

For more information, download Michigan Blood’s 56 Facts About Blood And Blood Donation.

Additional donor guidelines:

• Eat and drink before donating
• Allergies–OK if symptoms are under control
• Colds & Flu–OK if no fever/diarrhea in past 24 hours and you feel well. You must be off antibiotics 1 week
• Dental–Wait 1 week after major procedures; OK after fillings and cleanings if symptom free.
• If exposed to ANY contagious disease (e.g. measles, chicken pox, mumps, mono, whooping cough) in past 4-6 weeks, check with Donor Services staff.
• Pregnancy–Wait 6 weeks after normal or interrupted pregnancy
• Piercings–OK if pierced with a sterile disposable device or in doctor’s office. Otherwise wait 12 months
• Skin Infections–Wait until wounds or burns are completely healed and infection free.
• Medications–Most are acceptable; but you must know the name of the medication
• Tattoos–Wait 12 months if received in non licensed state. Michigan is licensed and requires donor to present a record of tattoo from the facility.
• Sexually Transmiterd Disease–Wait 12 months after treatment for syphilis or gonorrhea
• Past Deferral–Try again. Changes in donor criteria may make you eligible now
• You cannot donate if you have AIDS, positive HIV test, some blood diseases, leukemia, lymphoma/Hodgkins; OR chronic fatigue syndrome, chronic lung, liver, or heart disease; OR if you have had hepatitis; OR if you have spent a total of 3 months in the United Kingdom between 1980 and 1996.