Gifts for blood donors at today’s blood drives

Desert Blood Services will hold two blood drives today, one in Indio and one near the Salton Sea.

The blood drives are scheduled 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. at Indio Middle School, 81195 Miles Ave., and 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Fountain of Youth Spa, 1500 Spa Road in Niland.

Indio donors get a free T-shirt and Niland donors receive a free ticket to the Humana Challenge golf tournament in January, according to Desert Blood Services spokesman Don Escalante. All donors get a free cholesterol screening
and physical.

Healthy people at least 15 years old can give blood, but those 15 and 16 years old must provide written parental consent. Photo identification is required, and all donors should eat before arriving and be well-hydrated, according to Desert Blood Services.

Desert Blood Services provides blood products for Desert Regional Medical Center in Palm Springs, Eisenhower Medical Center in Rancho Mirage, JFK Memorial Hospital in Indio, Hi-Desert Medical Center in Joshua Tree, Palo Verde Hospital in Blythe and Bush Naval Hospital in Twentynine Palms.

For more information, call (760) 777-8844 or go to www.desertbloodservices.org.