Donate blood, receive special Halloween T-shirt

No blood bank can resist a good vampire joke this time of year. Indiana Blood Center, part of Versiti, is asking Hoosiers to help save lives by donating blood now through Oct. 31.

As a show of gratitude, they’ll receive a “Starve a Vampire: Give Blood” T-shirt just in time for Halloween. T-shirts will be available while supplies last.

Though Indiana Blood Center hopes the T-shirts will generate a smile, there is a particularly high need for O Negative blood throughout the state. Donations of all blood types are needed. But there is an especially great need for O Negative donors now. O Negative blood is the universal blood type given to patients in emergency situations.

Hoosiers can donate blood at the following Indiana Blood Center locations:

• Indianapolis: 3450 N. Meridian St.
• Fishers: 11005 Allisonville Road
• Carmel: 726 Adams St., Suite 150
• Greenwood: 879 U.S. 31 South
• Lafayette: 2200 Elmwood Ave., Suite D-16
• Terre Haute: 2021 S. 3rd St.

Appointments can be made by calling 317-916-5150 or online at donorpoint.org.

Anyone 16 or older in good health who meets eligibility requirements is encouraged to donate blood. Parental consent is required for donors age 16 to give. The donation process takes about an hour. Donors should bring a photo ID that includes their birth date. Appointments are encouraged but walk-ins are welcome.

Indiana Blood Center typically collects more than 130,000 units of blood annually and supplies blood to more than 60 Indiana hospitals and beyond.

Questions? Contact Duane Brodt at Duane Brodt at dbrodt@versiti.org or 317-916-5162.