College of the Canyons will hold a blood drive Sept. 9 at the Canyon Country Campus.

The event will be held from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. with walk-ins welcome.

The blood drive is one of many held throughout the school year.

The blood drive event will be sponsored by Associated Student Government and Providence Holy Cross Medical Center.

For more information about the COC blood drive, contact Kelly Dapp at 661-362-3983.

Blood Donation Guidelines

* All donors must be at least 17 years old and in good health. A donor can be 16 years old with a parental consent form. There is no upper age limit.

* All donors must weigh a minimum of 110 lb.

* A photo ID is required at time of donation.

* Donors must have completed antibiotics 3 days prior to giving blood. Okay medicines are aspirin, antihistamines, birth control pills, most blood pressure medications and vitamins.

* It is suggested that donors eat a meal before blood donation.

* Donors should drink plenty of water or juice several hours before and after donation.

* Strenuous activity should be avoided for 12 to 24 hours after donating blood. Individuals with a hazardous or strenuous job should donate at the end of their work shift.

* Okay to donate if donor has diabetes controlled by diet or oral medication. If donor is insulin dependant, he or she must be stable.

* Okay to donate if donor has asthma if asymptomatic and on normal medications (including bronchodilators) for management. Symptomatic asthma or requiring oral steroids for management is not acceptable.

* It is not acceptable to donate blood if a person has had more than one seizure in the past 6 months, or if a person has had multiple seizures unless the seizures are controlled with medication, and there has been no more than one seizure in the past 6 months.

* Cured local skin cancer (simple basal cell or squamous cell), as well as Cervical cancer in situ is acceptable. Most other forms of cancer are acceptable 5 years after being treated and released by your primary physician.

* Mitral Valve Prolapse patients are okay to donate if asymptomatic, no arrhythmias, and no limitations of activities.

Blood donation guidelines are courtesy of Providence Holy Cross Medical Center and may vary between donation sites.

– Taylor Villanueva