BOISE, Idaho — The American Red Cross is encouraging healthy people to make appointments to donate blood or platelets. With no end date for the coronavirus pandemic, it is important blood remains available for patients who still rely on transfusions.
Trauma patients, those fighting cancer, childbirth complications and sickle cell disease are all cases where blood is necessary. Donated blood has a shelf life of 42 days for red cells and only five days for platelets.
If you want to make an appointment to donate, download the Red Cross Blood Donor App, visit the Red Cross website or call 1-800-733-2767. Donors are asked to make an appointment before arriving to a bold drive and wear a face covering while there.
"We collect a lot of blood products from high schools and different companies, and so obviously with the COVID-19 pandemic lots of things are shut down, so we have had a lot of generous people that have offered space for us," said Nicole Sirak-Irwan, Regional CEO Idaho Montana Red Cross.
Upcoming blood donation opportunities May 1-15:
Ada County
Boise
- 5/1/2020: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m., Boise Saves Lives, 906 W Main St
- 5/12/2020: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m., Deathproof Coffee House, 10481 W Fairview Ave
Meridian
- 5/13/2020: 9 a.m. - 3 p.m., The Village at Meridian, 3693 E Longwing Lane #110
Elmore County
Glenns Ferry
- 5/12/2020: 1 p.m. - 6 p.m., Veteran's Hall, 132 E 5th, VFW Hall
Gem County
Emmett
- 5/1/2020: 12 p.m. - 5 p.m., Valor Hospital, 1202 E. LOCUST St. Valley Cascade
- 5/13/2020: 12 p.m. - 5 p.m., American Legion Hall, Mill Street and Hwy 55
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 or use the Blood Donor App.
