By Cindy Schroeder
The Cincinnati Enquirer

FORT MITCHELL - For most of her 48 years, Jo Ann Tischner was a self-described "scaredy cat'' at the prospect of donating blood.

"I hate needles,'' the Taylor Mill resident said. "Back in 1986, I tried to give at a blood drive at our parish, but (the technician) couldn't find my vein.''

A decade later, Tischner worked up the courage to try again. This time, she brought her husband, David, 49, along for support when the couple donated blood at Hoxworth's new Fort Mitchell Donor Center.

"We've been giving ever since,'' said Mrs. Tischner, who likes the convenience of the Fort Mitchell Donor Center and the friendly employees. "A couple of seconds of getting poked by a needle isn't too bad when you think about the people you're helping. They may need surgery, or they've been in a terrible accident.''

As Hoxworth's Fort Mitchell Donor Center marked its 10th anniversary this week, the Tischners received their 5-gallon pins, putting them among the center's frequent donors.

"We need more donors like the Tischners to make sure our community's blood supply is replenished at an adequate rate,'' said Michele Clare, Hoxworth's community outreach specialist.

Holidays, especially the Labor Day weekend, are crucial times for Tristate patients, Clare said. With holiday travel and the closure of many area businesses that normally do blood drives, donations drop. At the same time, more accidents occur, increasing the need for blood donations.

"We need people to donate now so that we don't have any shortages after the three-day holiday,'' said Michael Anderson, Hoxworth spokesman. "If we can get little boosts here and there, we can prevent critical shortages.''

With eight Greater Cincinnati donor centers serving 24 Tristate hospitals in a 14-county area, Hoxworth needs to collect blood from 325 volunteers each day to meet local hospitals' demand, Clare said.

"There are a lot of donors we see only once a year,'' she said. "If we were to see those one-time donors twice a year it would make a significant difference in our blood supplies.''

More than 70 percent of the population has A positive or O positive blood types. However, the Tristate's A positive blood supply is 31 percent below normal levels and O positive is 18 percent below normal, Anderson said.

Mr. Tischner, who works as a supervisor in security at St. Elizabeth Medical Center North, said he and his wife advise people who ask about donating blood to do so.

"It usually takes less than an hour,'' he said. "It's very convenient, and you're doing something where you feel productive. They can help as many as four people with every pint you donate.''

If you go

What: 10th anniversary bash for Hoxworth's Fort Mitchell Donor Center

When: Noon to 4 p.m. Friday.

Where: 2220 Grandview Dr., Fort Mitchell Station

To give blood: To schedule an appointment to donate blood at any of Hoxworth's eight Tristate donor centers, call (513) 451-0910 or visit www.hoxworth.org.

E-mail cschroeder@enquirer.com