The Washington Capitals and Inova Blood Donor Services will host a blood drive on Saturday, Feb. 1, from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. at MedStar Capitals Iceplex in Arlington, Va. Appointments are required.

FROM CAPITALS MEDIA RELEASE

Each donor will receive a bobblehead featuring Capitals forward Carl Hagelin as well as a Capitals T-shirt.

More than 250 units of blood and blood products are needed every day, year-round, for patients in area hospitals. One blood donation can save up to three lives, and there is a continual need for all blood types. There is no substitute for human blood. It only comes from volunteer blood donors. It is used to help trauma patients, surgery patients, newborn babies, cancer patients and transplant patients.

Donors can make an appointment now by calling 1-866-BLOODSAVES (1-866-256-6372) or by signing up online at washcaps.com/donateblood. All donors are asked to arrive at their scheduled appointment time.

In order to make each donation go further, donors who know their blood type can select a specific donation type of double red cells, platelets and/or plasma based on the current needs of our community. If you have a blood type of O+, O-, A-, or B-, please be open to a donation type of double red cells. If you have a blood type of A+, AB+, AB-, or B+, please be open to a donation of platelets and/or plasma. By choosing a donation method that matches up with your blood type, we can make a maximum impact in the community. If you have questions regarding why one donation type is more beneficial for your blood type, please call 1-866-BLOODSAVES (1-866-256-6372).

To give blood, donors must be feeling generally well on the day of their donation, be at least 16 years old (with parental consent), weigh at least 110 pounds and not have donated blood in the past eight weeks (56 days) for whole blood or not have donated double red cells in the past 16 weeks (112 days). For more information about eligibility requirements call 1-866-BLOODSAVES or visit inovablood.org.

Aspects of each potential donor’s health history are discussed as part of the donation process before any blood is collected. Each donor receives a brief examination during which temperature, blood pressure and hemoglobin (iron level) are measured.

Inova Blood Donor Services is the major supplier of blood products in the Washington, D.C., metropolitan area.