The spring Red Cross Blood Drive at St. Thomas has spots available for blood donors and volunteers. The drive will be held from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday and Wednesday, April 2 and 3, in the Koch Commons Fireside Room (113).

To make an appointment to give blood, log on to the American Red Cross website and enter St. Thomas’ ZIP code, 55105.

To sign up as a volunteer, email your availability to the Wellness Center and note whether you would prefer being a greeter or volunteer at the canteen. Volunteer shifts will be in one-hour increments from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

To give blood, donors must:

• Be healthy
• Be at least 17 years old
• Weigh at least 110 pounds
• Not have donated blood in the past eight weeks (56 days)

“Healthy” means that donors feel well and can perform normal activities. For those who have a chronic condition, such as diabetes or high blood pressure, “healthy” also means that they are being treated and that the condition is under control.

Those unsure whether they are able to give blood (i.e., if they had recent out-of-country travels) can call 1 (800) GIVE-LIFE or check eligibility requirements here for answers to specific eligibility questions. Eligibility requirements may vary for some states and blood centers. Final eligibility is determined by medical professionals at the time of donation.

Before donating blood:

• 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 and 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. (Tests for infections done on all donated blood can be affected by fatty materials [lipids] that appear in one’s blood for several hours after eating fatty foods. When this occurs and required testing cannot be performed, the blood may need to be discarded.)

For more information email the Wellness Center.