ST. GEORGE – It’s officially spring. As the weather warms and the latest COVID-19 surge continues to slow, many people are looking forward to meeting up with family and friends.
At the start of this new season, the American Red Cross of Utah encourages the community to play an important role in helping save lives by making blood or platelet donation part of their spring plans.
“The need for blood is always present, and we’re thankful that so many in our community understand the importance of blood drives and helping patients in need,” said Heidi Ruster, chief executive officer of the American Red Cross Utah/Nevada Region, in a news release. “A single blood donation can help save more than one life — a teen who was in an accident, a grandfather in need of heart surgery, a friend being treated for cancer or a child with sickle cell disease.”
Donated blood has a limited shelf life, so supplies must be constantly replenished. Several Red Cross blood drives are scheduled in Southern Utah. Donors can make an appointment by downloading the Red Cross Blood Donor App, visiting the Red Cross website or calling 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767).
Save time during donation
Donors can also save up to 15 minutes at the blood drive by completing a RapidPass®. With RapidPass®, donors complete the pre-donation reading and health history questionnaire online, on the day of donation, from a mobile device or computer. To complete a RapidPass®, follow the online instructions at on the Red Cross Rapid Pass webpage or use the Red Cross Blood Donor App.
To donate blood, individuals need to bring a blood donor card or driver’s license or two other forms of identification that 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 must meet certain height and weight requirements.
Health insights 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 after vaccination or past exposure, regardless of whether they developed symptoms, the news release said.
Additionally, plasma from routine blood, platelet and plasma donations that have high levels of COVID-19 antibodies may be used as convalescent plasma to meet potential future needs of COVID-19 patients with weakened immune systems.
The Red Cross is not testing donors to diagnose infection, referred to as a diagnostic test. To protect the health and safety of Red Cross staff and donors, it is important that individuals who have been asked to quarantine or believe they may be ill with COVID-19 postpone donation until they are symptom free for 10 days and feeling well and healthy, according to the news release.
At a time when health information has never been more important, the Red Cross is screening all blood, platelet and plasma donations from self-identified African American donors for the sickle cell trait. This additional screening will provide Black donors with an additional health insight and help the Red Cross identify compatible blood types more quickly to help patients with sickle cell disease. Blood transfusion is an essential treatment for those with sickle cell disease, and blood donations from individuals of the same race, ethnicity and blood type have a unique ability to help patients fight sickle cell disease.
Donors can expect to receive antibody testing results and sickle cell trait screening results, if applicable, within one to two weeks through the Red Cross Blood Donor App and the online donor portal.
Each Red Cross blood drive and donation center follows high standards of safety and infection control, and additional precautions – including face masks for donors and staff, regardless of vaccination status – 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.
While getting back into the stands to watch the home team play this spring, donors can join a team of their own – Team Red Cross. As a thank-you, all who come to give April 1-18 will receive an exclusive Red Cross T-shirt, while supplies last.
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