The American Red Cross encourages eligible donors to give blood during Liver Awareness Month this October. They will be in Hugoton Tuesday, October 7, from 12:00 noon to 6:00 p.m. at the  Stevens County Fairgrounds on Highway 51 and Washington Street.
According to the American Liver Foundation, more than 6,000 liver transplants are performed each year in the United States making it the second most common transplant. Liver transplant patients may require in excess of 30 pints of blood during surgery. Volunteer donors are the only source of blood for those in need of transfusions during surgery.
Donors with all blood types are currently needed, especially those with types O negative, A negative and B negative. All those who attempt to donate blood during October will be eligible to win a $5,000 Visa gift card, courtesy of Suburban Propane.
    A blood donor card or driver’s license or two other forms of identification are required at check-in. Individuals who are 17 years of age (16 with parental consent in some states), weigh at least 110 pounds and are in generally good health may be eligible to donate blood. High school students and other donors 18 years of age and younger also have to meet certain height and weight requirements.
To make an appointment to donate blood, eligible donors are encouraged to download the new Red Cross Blood Donor App from app stores (See related story on page 3) or text BLOODAPP to 90999 to receive a download link, visit red
crossblood.org or call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767). More information about liver disease and ways to help protect against liver disease are available at liver
foundation.org.
Area upcoming blood donation opportunities include:
•    Boise City, Ok. – October 1, 2014, from 2:00  to 6:00 p.m. at the Boise City High School, 700 SE First Street.
•    Elkhart – October 2, 2014, from 11:45 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. at the Elkhart City Hall, 433 Morton Street.
•    Sublette – October 8, 2014, from 1:00 to 5:00 p.m. at the Sublette High School, 501 S Ellis.
•    Meade – October 3, 2014, from 9:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at St John Forst Center, 500 W. Carthage.