United Blood Services will hold a blood drive 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Wednesday at Clovis Community College, 417 Schepps Boulevard. UBS will collect whole blood and red blood cell donations in the common area of CCC.

The process will take between 30 and 45 minutes for whole blood donors and around 1 1/2 hours for red blood cell donors. Participants will receive a free health screening and refreshments.

Be prepared

Stephanie Pointer, United Blood Services representative, said donors need to bring a picture I.D. and eat before donating blood. Parental permission forms, required for donors under the age of 17, can be obtained online or on location.

The process

Donors are required to provide a medical history, including a list of current medications, and will receive a free health screening of temperature, blood pressure, pulse rate and blood hemoglobin level.

Who can donate

Pointer said anyone who is well and weighs at least 110 pounds can donate blood. She requested people stay home if they have a fever, cold, are pregnant or taking antibiotics, but noted that most medications, including insulin, do not disqualify donors.

Red blood cell donations

Donations pass through a machine that separates and collects red blood cells, and returns remaining blood components to the donor. The process takes a little more time and special weight, height and hemoglobin requirements apply.

How much?

Area residents donate an average of 30 units of blood per drive, according to Pointer.

Most common use

Pointer said cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy are the largest beneficiaries of blood donations.

Next blood drive

The next blood drive in Clovis will be held from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. March 1 in the Clovis Carver Public Library-Ingram room.

Information: www.bloodhero.com

— Compiled by CNJ staff writer Tonjia Rolan