You should know
American Red Cross urges blood donations
The American Red Cross is urging Americans who are in good health and are able to give blood or platelets.
The Red Cross will also be thanking those who come to donate blood, platelets or plasma by automatically entering them for a chance to win a travel trailer camper that sleeps five.
The Red Cross is also testing blood, platelets, and plasma donations for COVID-19 antibodies. The test would be able to tell if a donor’s immune system has produced any antibodies that would fight the virus, regardless of whether they have symptoms or not. The blood and platelet donations that test positive for the antibodies could be used to meet potential needs of COVID-19 patients in the future, or those who are currently fighting the virus, the news release said.
Individuals of all blood types are urged to give blood, regardless of whether they have received a COVID-19 vaccine. Appointments can be made on the Red Cross Blood Donor app, by visiting RedCrossBlood.org or by calling 1-800-RED-CROSS.
