Blood drive set for Friday

The Houma Police Department is sponsoring a blood drive Friday, from 9 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. at its Honduras Street parking lot.

The community is invited to join in the effort to save lives, said spokesman Lt. Todd Duplantis. All donors will receive a free T-shirt.

Donors must be at least 17 years old, weigh at least 110 pounds and not have donated blood in the last eight weeks or double red cells in the last 16 weeks.

Donors with a chronic condition such as diabetes or high blood pressure must be in medical treatment, and the condition must be under control.

Other aspects of each potential donor’s health history are discussed as part of the donation process before any blood is collected, according to the American Red Cross. Each donor receives a brief examination during which temperature, pulse, blood pressure and blood count (hemoglobin or hematocrit) are measured.