Islanders are invited to donate blood at the next Orcas Island Community Blood Drive on Thursday, Sept. 29, from 11:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. at the Eastsound fire station at 45 Lavender Lane.

Donors are welcome to walk in, but pre-scheduled appointments will be given priority at registration. To make an appointment, contact Paul Losleben at Losleben@rockisland.com or 376-6804. The blood drive is sponsored by the Orcas Island Lions Club.

Patients who have received blood transfusions in the past few days include the following examples: A 48-year-old patient with obstetric bleeding needed eight units of red blood cells, four units plasma and two units platelets; a 69-year-old patient having open heart surgery used 38 units of red blood cells, 46 units of plasma, and 12 units platelets; and a 41-year-old patient with post operative bleeding used 12 units of red blood cells, four units of plasma, and one unit of platelets.

“The blood was available for them, thanks to donors like you,” said event organizers.

For questions about donor eligibility, visit http://www.psbc.org/programs/blood.htm.