The Armed Services Blood Program is hosting blood drives in the KMC this month. (Armed Services Blood Program)

The Armed Services Blood Program is hosting blood drives at the fitness centers at Sembach and Kleber Kaserne this month.

The drives are scheduled for May 19 at the gym on Sembach and May 20 at Kleber, both from 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Walk-ins donations are welcome, but appointments are encouraged.

Recent changes in eligibility rules, including the removal of restrictions on those who spent time in Europe and the U.K. during the mad cow disease outbreak, as well as relaxed guidelines on tattoos, have broadened the donor pool.

Children 10 and older are welcome at the blood drive but must sit away from the donation area for safety reasons. Children under 10 need an additional person, who is at least 12 years old and is not the blood donor, to supervise them. Donors must be at least 18 years old.

For more information, call DSN 314-590-5885 or +49 6371-9464-5885 or email usarmy.donatebloodeurope@health.mil.