I like that statement, 'I may have saved your life today,'" said Anita Fieldsa, member of the Paradise Township Lions Club, responding the the idea that blood donors should wear a sticker bearing those words. The club has been holding blood drives at The Factory Ministries for the last year, but attendance at recent events has been sparse.

The next blood drive, which the Lions Club holds in partnership with Penn Medicine Lancaster General Health and The Factory Ministries, will be held at The Factory, 3293 E. Lincoln Highway, Paradise, on Tuesday, April 30. Donors may give blood in Room 103 from 2 to 7 p.m. that day.

"You don't realize how urgent it is when the situation arises to get that blood," said Pat Kelley, the Lions Club member who coordinates the drives. "I always like to offer my blood for those emergency situations." Kelley added that while the need for blood is currently not dire, donorship is always important. "There's no emergency need at this point, but the blood banks are always running low, and in preparation for that big (possible) emergency, they like to keep a lot of blood on hand," she said, adding that the public is not always aware of the need for blood at any moment. "It almost takes a catastrophe to occur for people to realize (the importance of blood donorship)."

According to Kelley, the blood donation process, which takes about an hour, begins with completing a two- to three-page questionnaire. "That takes about 15 minutes, depending on and individual's medical situation," she noted. The next step is to meet with a nurse to go over any medications the donor is taking. Kelley noted if a medication is detrimental to the blood quality, a potential donor might not be able to give. Donors must be ages 16 to 79 and must bring identification. Regular donors should know the date they last gave blood. Minors will need parental consent to give. Potential donors age 80 and over may donate at the Blood Donor Center at Lancaster General Health.

Kelley is hoping to see more donors at the April drive, noting that a local company, Smoker Door Sales, is encouraging employees to come over to donate. "It's like a company-wide event," she said.

For more details and to register, visit http://www.lghblooddonors.org/donorportal/donate-blood.