Lakenheath to host Armed Services Blood drive Published April 27, 2016 By Colleen Urban Armed Services Blood Program - Europe ROYAL AIR FORCE LAKENHEATH, England -- The Armed Services Blood Program will hold a blood drive May 3 to collect and provide blood products and services to our armed services in peace and war. The blood drive will run from 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. at the RAF Lakenheath Fitness and Sports Center, Building 904. The Armed Services Blood Program only collects blood from service members, family members, retirees, and DoD civilians, and all blood collected stays within the community. The basic guidelines for blood donation are you must be at least 17 years old, weigh 110 pounds or more, and do not have a cold or other illness. A donor who has spent five or more cumulative years in certain European countries since 1980 could be deferred; however, time spent in the United Kingdom after 1996 does not count toward that time. There are also other specific restrictions that may exclude you from donation. Please come out to the blood drive and speak to a blood donor center representative for more details. Blood must be collected constantly to replace aging contingency supplies and also meet the peacetime needs of the military health system. Individuals can donate blood every 56 days, and one donation can help up to three people! To make an appointment to donate, visit www.militarydonor.com. Click on "Donate Blood" then click "Landstuhl, Germany" and find a blood drive near you. For more information, call DSN 590-5885, CIV 06371-946-45885 or find it on Facebook at www.facebook.com/ASBBCEUR.