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CORVALLIS - Oregon State University's annual American Red Cross three-day spring blood drive is scheduled May 11-13 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the campus Memorial Union Ballroom.

Giving blood takes less than one hour. Donors must be healthy, at least 17 years old, and weigh 105 pounds or more. For more information, contact Sherri Rutherford at 541-737-3266.

Oregon State University is the Red Cross' largest blood drive in the Northwest and May marks the 51st anniversary of Red Cross blood service. The Red Cross started collecting blood in World War II to help save soldiers' lives on the battlefields. Red Cross efforts were credited with reducing the death rate of soldiers to half that of their World War I counterparts.

Following the war, the Red Cross created the first national civilian blood program, opening its first blood center in 1948.