A year ago, many things in the world paused due to the COVID-19 pandemic. But the need for blood never stopped. Today blood donations are just as essential, and the American Red Cross urges individuals who are healthy to make an appointment to donate blood.
For patients in the emergency room, fighting cancer or coping with a life-threatening illness, help can’t wait. Their health is reliant on the selfless generosity of blood donors. However, the blood supply continues to face challenges from the ongoing pandemic and extreme winter weather that impacted much of the U.S. last month.
More donors, especially those with type O blood, are needed now to ensure that patients have lifesaving blood products available for emergencies and everyday medical treatments. Schedule a blood donation appointment by downloading the Red Cross Blood Donor App, visiting RedCrossBlood.org, calling 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) or enabling the Blood Donor Skill on any Alexa Echo device.
March is Red Cross Month, and the Red Cross is celebrating blood, platelet and plasma donors for stepping up to meet the constant need for blood amid the pandemic. In thanks for being a vital part of the organization’s lifesaving mission, all who come to give March 15-26 will receive an exclusive Red Cross T-shirt, while supplies last.
Important COVID-19 information for donors:
The Red Cross is testing blood, platelet and plasma donations for COVID-19 antibodies. The test may indicate if the donor’s immune system has produced antibodies to this coronavirus, regardless of whether an individual developed COVID-19 symptoms. Testing may also identify the presence of antibodies developed after receiving a COVID-19 vaccine. Red Cross antibody tests will be helpful to identify individuals who have COVID-19 antibodies and may now help current coronavirus patients in need of convalescent plasma transfusions. Convalescent plasma is a type of blood donation collected from COVID-19 survivors that have antibodies that may help patients who are actively fighting the virus. Plasma from whole blood donations that test positive for high levels of COVID-19 antibodies may be used to help COVID-19 patients.
COVID-19 antibody test results will be available within one to two weeks in the Red Cross Blood Donor App or donor portal at RedCrossBlood.org. A positive antibody test result does not confirm infection or immunity. The Red Cross is not testing donors to diagnose illness, referred to as a diagnostic test. To protect the health and safety of Red Cross staff and donors, it is important that individuals who do not feel well or believe they may be ill with COVID-19 postpone donation.
Each Red Cross blood drive and donation center follows the highest standards of safety and infection control, and additional precautions – including temperature checks, social distancing and face coverings for donors and staff – have been implemented to help protect the health of all those in attendance. Donors are asked to schedule an appointment prior to arriving at the drive and are required to wear a face covering or mask while at the drive, in alignment with Centers for Disease Control and Prevention public guidance.
Upcoming blood donation opportunities March 15-31
Bend, Oregon:
3/15/2021: 11 a.m. – 5:30 p.m., Bend Blood Donation Center, 815 SW Bond Street Suite 110
3/15/2021: 12:30 p.m. – 5:30 p.m., Bend Factory Stores, 61334 S. Highway 97, Suite 270
3/16/2021: 1 p.m. – 6:30 p.m., Bend Blood Donation Center, 815 SW Bond Street Suite 110
3/17/2021: 11 a.m. – 4 p.m., Bend Blood Donation Center, 815 SW Bond Street Suite 110
3/18/2021: 10 a.m. – 3 p.m., Whole Foods Market Bend, 2610 NE Hwy 20
3/19/2021: 8:30 a.m. – 2 p.m., Bend Blood Donation Center, 815 SW Bond Street Suite 110
3/22/2021: 11 a.m. – 5:30 p.m., Bend Blood Donation Center, 815 SW Bond Street Suite 110
3/22/2021: 1 p.m. – 6 p.m., Central Oregon Collective, 62070 SE 27th Street
3/23/2021: 1 p.m. – 6:30 p.m., Bend Blood Donation Center, 815 SW Bond Street Suite 110
3/24/2021: 11 a.m. – 4 p.m., Bend Blood Donation Center, 815 SW Bond Street Suite 110
3/25/2021: 10 a.m. – 3 p.m., Fred Meyer Bend, 61535 HWY 97
3/26/2021: 8:30 a.m. – 2 p.m., Bend Blood Donation Center, 815 SW Bond Street Suite 110
3/29/2021: 11 a.m. – 5:30 p.m., Bend Blood Donation Center, 815 SW Bond Street Suite 110
3/30/2021: 9 a.m. – 2 p.m., Tetherow, 61240 Skyline Ranch Road
3/30/2021: 1:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m., Bend Blood Donation Center, 815 SW Bond Street Suite 110
3/31/2021: 11 a.m. – 4 p.m., Bend Blood Donation Center, 815 SW Bond Street Suite 110
3/31/2021: 11:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m., Tumalo Community Church, 64671 Bruce Avenue
La Pine, Oregon:
3/18/2021: 12 p.m. – 5 p.m., High Lakes Christian Church, 52620 Day Road
Redmond, Oregon:
3/15/2021: 1 p.m. – 6 p.m., Grange 812, 707 SW Kalama
3/16/2021: 11 a.m. – 4:30 p.m., LDS – Redmond OR Stake, 450 SW Rimrock
3/25/2021: 1 p.m. – 6 p.m., VFW 4108 Redmond, 491 SW Veterans Way
3/30/2021: 10 a.m. – 3 p.m., Silverleaf Cafe, 7535 Falcon Crest Drive
John Day, Oregon:
3/16/2021: 1 p.m. – 6 p.m., The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 944 E Main St.
3/18/2021: 10:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m., The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 944 E Main St.
Prairie City, Oregon:
3/17/2021: 8:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m., Prairie City School, 740 Overholdt St
Madras, Oregon:
3/17/2021: 12:30 p.m. – 6 p.m., United Methodist Church, 49 NE 12th Street
Terrebonne, Oregon:
3/24/2021: 10 a.m. – 3 p.m., Dayspring Christian Center, 7801 N 7th Street
About blood donation:
Simply download the American Red Cross Blood Donor App, visit RedCrossBlood.org, call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) or enable the Blood Donor Skill on any Alexa Echo device to make an appointment or for more information. All blood types are needed to ensure a reliable supply for patients. A blood donor card or driver’s license or two other forms of identification are required at check-in. Individuals who are 17 years of age in most states (16 with parental consent where allowed by state law), weigh at least 110 pounds and are in generally good health may be eligible to donate blood. High school students and other donors 18 years of age and younger also have to meet certain height and weight requirements.
Blood and platelet donors can save time at their next donation by using RapidPass® to complete their pre-donation reading and health history questionnaire online, on the day of their donation, before arriving at the blood drive. To get started, follow the instructions at RedCrossBlood.org/RapidPass
About the American Red Cross
The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides emotional support to victims of disasters; supplies about 40% of the nation’s blood; teaches skills that save lives; provides international humanitarian aid; and supports military members and their families. The Red Cross is a not-for-profit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to perform its mission. For more information, please visit redcross.org or cruzroja
