You Can Donate Blood in Hopatcong Sunday

People in Hopatcong will want your blood Sunday.

Fortunately, you have to give it to them. They can't take it.

The Hopatcong fire department and St. Jude's Knights of Columbus will sponsor a blood drive in conduction with the Blood Center of New Jersey on Sunday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the .

Here's what you need to know about the blood drive.

1. You Need to Know The Age Limits: Donors must be age 16 or older. There's not maximum age limit.
2. You Need to Know About Your Social Security Number: The Blood Center of New Jersey will ask for it only once. After that, you can use your donor identification number, which the staff can find if you've lost it.
3. You Need to Know Why You Can't Give Blood: If you've had a routine teeth cleaning or filling within 24 hours; had other dental work within 72 hours; have a sore throat or fever; have traveled to an area considered endemic to malaria within 12 months; weight less than 120 pounds.
4. You Need to Know How Often You Can Donate: Every eight weeks.
5. You Need to Know the Effects of Donating Blood: Not much, says the Blood Center. Fluid volumes usually normalize within 24 hours after donation. And white cell counts normalize with 72 hours.
6. BONUS You Need to Know How Long Blood Lasts: Red blood cells last 42 days whereas platelets last five days and plasma can be frozen for a year.
7. BONUS AGAIN You Need to Know How to Learn Your Blood Type: Blood donors will receive donor ID cards about a month after donating. Your blood type will be listed on the front of the card.