As summer winds down, the American Red Cross urges individuals to give blood and platelets now and help end an emergency summer blood shortage.
A critical need remains as many regular donors delay giving to take final summer vacations and prepare for school to start. To ensure lifesaving treatments remain available for patients in the coming weeks, donations are needed now, especially type O.
In thanks for helping at this urgent time, those who come to donate blood or platelets July 30 – August 30, 2018, will receive a $5 Amazon.com gift card via email. (Restrictions apply; see amazon.com/gc-legal. More information are available at RedCrossBlood.org/Together.)
Make an appointment to donate blood by downloading the free American Red Cross Blood Donor App, visiting RedCrossBlood.org or calling 1 (800) RED CROSS (1 (800) 733-2767). Those who donated blood earlier this summer may be eligible to give again. Blood can be safely given every 56 days, and Power Red donations can be given every 16 weeks.
Upcoming blood donation opportunities
• Preston: August 15, 1-7 p.m. United Methodist Church, 212 St. Anthony St. N.
• Rushford: August 16, 1-7 p.m., American Legion, 213 State Road 16
• Houston: August 21, 1:30-6:30 p.m., Ridgeway Community School, 35564 Winona County Road 12
• Spring Valley: August 23, 1-7 p.m., Community Center, 200 S. Broadway