It is the second year the American Red Cross and the United States Military Academy at West Point will hold a Red Cross Month blood drive in honor of ties that date back to the mid-1800s. Since 1905, the Red Cross has proudly carried out a mandate in its congressional charter to support the U.S. Armed Forces, their families and veterans during peacetime and conflict -- at home, around the world and on ships at sea.

The upcoming four-day event March 5-8, noon to 6 p.m. at Eisenhower Hall is open to the public. USMA is committed to a goal of 400 donations each of the four days.

Whole blood donors must be at least 17 years old, weigh at least 110 pounds and be in general good health. To schedule an appointment, call 938-6805 or e-mail Kellie Biehl on exchange mail.

This year, the American Red Cross will bring five collection machines to take apheresis donations. Apheresis is a special kind of blood donation that allows donors to give just one blood component -- platelets -- the cells that stop people from bleeding. During an apheresis donation, whole blood is drawn from a donor. The needed platelets are removed and the rest of the blood is returned to the donor.

The apheresis process, from medical history through juice and cookies, takes between one and a half to two hours to complete. Platelet donations are by appointment only at the Cadet Restaurant on the second floor of Ike Hall. Call the American Red Cross at 888-317-8366 to schedule a donation appointment during one of these times:

March 5 – noon, 2 or 4 p.m.
March 6 and 7 – 10 a.m., noon, 2 and 4 p.m.
March 8 – 10 a.m., noon and 2 p.m.
By agreement, 20 percent of the blood collected at this blood drive is available to Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, D.C.