Blood drives: know if you’re eligible to donate

Giving blood locally is one of the most important acts KMC citizens can make. Blood collected from drives at Ramstein are shipped to troops downrange, and blood costs $600 per pint if it is not available via donation.

However, certain requirements must be met for folks to be able to safely donate blood. You will not be able to donate blood if you:

• Have a cold, flu or fever
• Have had a tattoo or accupuncture in the past 12 months
• Weigh less than 110 pounds
• Traveled to Iraq, Eastern Turkey, or western provinces of Saudi Arabia

(excluding the high altitude areas of Asir Province and the urban areas of Jeddah, Mecca, Medina, Riyadh, and Taif/Prince Sultan Air Base) in the last year
• Have, within the last two years, traveled to South Korea and were north of

Seoul at any time including the DMZ Tour: please inform receptionist of specific dates

• Spent three months or more in the United Kingdom from 1980 to 1996
• Spent six months or more at a base in Europe from 1980 to 1996
• Have lived in Europe for five years or more since Jan. 1, 1997
• Have had hepatitis after your 11th birthday
• Have HIV, or ever tested positive for HIV
• Are pregnant or have been pregnant in the last six weeks

 You must know:
• The name of any medication you are taking or have taken in the past four weeks (i.e. aspirin, Tylenol, birth control pills, antibiotics, etc.)
• Any immunizations (including smallpox) administered in the past four weeks.
• Every place you have been to outside of the U.S. or Canada since 1980 (including all deployments)