Today, Thursday, March 29, is the day to give life to someone by donating blood.

The Coastal Bend Blood Center will have a mobile unit in Port Aransas from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. The unit will be in the Family Center IGA parking lot, 418 S. Alister St.

Donors will receive a t-shirt and a Whataburger coupon.

Donors may be eligible to give blood if they are in general good health, are 17 years of age or older, weigh at least 110 pounds, haven't donated whole blood in the last eight weeks, have normal blood pressure, pulse and temperature, don't have a cold or sore throat, are not pregnant, under a doctor's care for any serious illness or injury, or taking antibiotics for an active infection.

Donors with high blood pressure controlled by medication or with diabetes controlled by medication also may be eligible.

Due to the needs of patients in area medical facilities, inventory levels are constantly changing. In order to provide a safe and adequate blood supply for the Coastal Bend, more than 150 people must register to give blood each day.

Presently blood types AB+, AB-, A-, B- and O+ are at a critical level, but all types are taken every day.