Today, Thursday, Oct. 18, is the day to give blood so others may live.

The mobile unit of the Coastal Bend Blood Center (CBBC) will accept donations from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., at the Family Center IGA parking lot, 418 S. Alister St.

All donors will receive a Whataburger coupon and t-shirts.

Donors must be in general good health; 17 years of age or older; weigh at least 110 pounds; have at least 12.5 gm/dl of hemoglobin; not have donated whole blood in the last eight weeks, or double red blood cells in the last 16 weeks; have normal pulse, temperature and blood pressure or medically controlled high blood pressure; not have a cold or sore throat; not be pregnant; not under a doctor's care for any serious illness or injury and not taking antibiotics for an active infection.

People who have diabetes controlled by medication, are taking common anti-depressants or birth control pills, or who have had a tattoo or piercing at a state licensed facility also may be eligible.

Blood donors save lives, and more than four million Americans would die each year if not for blood donors, according to the CBBC.

Donating blood is simple. Name, address and a photo ID (such as a driver's license) are required. Donors will be asked health, medical history, current medications and recent surgeries questions to insure donors are healthy enough to give blood and that the blood will be safe to give to patients who need it. Temperature, blood pressure, pulse and iron levels are checked, and blood is drawn. Brand new, sterile supplies are used for each donation. The draw takes less than ten minutes.

The CBBC provides water, juice and cookies, and has donors wait a few minutes before leaving.

In the Coastal Bend, more than 120 people a day must donate blood in order to maintain the supply for the community.

Every day, hundreds of patients in the Coastal Bend need timely blood transfusions to survive, and every three seconds someone needs blood. It's not just the patients that benefit. Individuals, organizations, churches, schools and companies that participate in blood drives receive lasting benefits as well, according to the CBBC.

Donating blood allows donors to play a key role in maintaining an adequate blood supply in the Coastal Bend, according to the CBBC.

Visit www.coastalbendbloodcenter. org for more information.