A convenient location will not be a problem for those who want to donate blood during MEDIC Regional Blood Center's annual Downtown Donor Days on July 19-23.

Downtown workers and others can choose from six locations in the center of town as part of MEDIC's effort to make blood donation an easy and convenient way to help save lives. MEDIC needs to collect an average of 350 units of blood every working day of the year in order to fulfill the demand of the 27 local and regional hospitals they supply.

"In addition to making blood donation convenient, we hope seeing our mobile units all over town will remind people to take time to donate," said Jim Decker, chief executive officer of MEDIC Regional Blood Center. "If you can spare 45 minutes out of your schedule, you can save a life in our community."

Donors during Downtown Donor Days will receive a coupon for a free sandwich from Chick-fil-A and a free regular Italian Ice from Rita's Ice on Market Square. Also, donors will receive a free cholesterol level reading.

Donors must have positive identification, be at least 17 years old and weigh at least 110 pounds. 16 year olds, weighing 120 pounds may donate but MUST have parental consent. Consent forms can be found at any blood drive or at www.medicblood.org. All blood types are needed at this time.

As always, blood donors will qualify for MEDIC'S Individual Coverage Plan. Under this plan, one blood donation per year exempts the donor and his or her IRS dependents from paying blood supplier processing fees at any hospital in the country if a transfusion is needed. A donor can also designate this benefit as replacement or substitution coverage for someone else.

"Blood coverage is a unique benefit for our donors," said Decker. "We think it is the most valuable program we offer, and it can add up to real savings in medical costs."

Following is date, time and location information for Downtown Donor Days:

Mon., July 19; 9 a.m.-5 p.m.; Mast General Store (Bloodmobile) Tues., July 20; 8 a.m.-5 p.m.; 21st Mortgage Corporation (Employees only) Tues., July 20; 8 a.m.-5 p.m.; University of Tennessee Conference Center (Bloodmobile) Wed., July 21; 8 a.m.-5 p.m.; Market Square (Bloodmobile) Wed., July 21; 8 a.m.-5 p.m.; First Tennessee Plaza, (Bloodmobile) Thurs. and Fri., July 22-23; 8 a.m.-4 p.m.; City County Building, Small Assembly Room Mon.-Fri., July 19-23; 8 a.m.-6:30 p.m.; MEDIC Headquarters, 1601 Ailor Avenue

A not-for-profit organization, MEDIC Regional Blood Center was established in 1958 by Carl Nelson, M.D., under the sponsorship of the Knoxville Academy of Medicine. MEDIC is the sole provider of blood and blood products to the 27 hospitals in the 21-county region of Eastern Tennessee and Southeast Kentucky.

For more information, contact 865-524-3074 or visit www.medicblood.org.