ALABAMA, USA — With no known end date to the coronavirus fight, the American Red Cross is encouraging healthy individuals to make appointments to donate blood or platelets to ensure blood remains readily available for patients who still rely on transfusions.
The need for blood for trauma patients, children battling cancer, mothers experiencing childbirth complications, patients with sickle cell disease and others continues. Donated blood has a limited shelf life of 42 days for red cells and just five days for platelets, so the supply must constantly be replenished.
Healthy individuals who are feeling well are asked to make an appointment to donate by downloading the free Red Cross Blood Donor App, visiting their website, calling 1-800-RED CROSS or enabling the Blood Donor Skill on any Alexa Echo device.
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.
Time and dates for donations are listed below:
- Huntsville, Huntsville Blood Donation Center, 1015 Airport Rd., SW
- 5/1: 8:15 a.m. - 3:15 p.m.
- 5/2: 8:15 a.m. - 3:15 p.m.
- 5/3: 8:15 a.m. - 2:45 p.m.
- 5/4: 12:45 p.m. - 7:45 p.m.
- 5/5: 12:45 p.m. - 7:15 p.m.
- 5/6: 10:45 a.m. - 5:15 p.m.
- 5/8: 8:15 a.m. - 3:15 p.m.
- 5/9: 8:15 a.m. - 3:15 p.m.
- 5/10: 8:15 a.m. - 2:45 p.m.
- 5/11: 12:45 p.m. - 7:45 p.m.
- 5/12: 12:45 p.m. - 7:15 p.m.
- 5/13: 10:45 a.m. - 5:15 p.m.
- 5/15: 8:15 a.m. - 3:15 p.m.
- 5/16: 8:15 a.m. - 3:15 p.m.
- 5/17: 8:15 a.m. - 2:45 p.m.
- 5/18: 12:45 p.m. - 7:45 p.m.
- 5/19: 12:45 p.m. - 7:15 p.m.
- 5/20: 10:45 a.m. - 5:15 p.m.
- 5/22: 8:15 a.m. - 3:15 p.m.
- 5/23: 8:15 a.m. - 3:15 p.m.
- 5/24: 8:15 a.m. - 2:45 p.m.
- 5/25: 8:15 a.m. - 3:15 p.m.
- 5/26: 12:45 p.m. - 7:15 p.m.
- 5/27: 10:45 a.m. - 5:15 p.m.
- 5/29: 8:15 a.m. - 3:15 p.m.
- 5/30: 8:15 a.m. - 3:15 p.m.
- Madison, Good Shepherd United Methodist Church, 1418 Old Railroad Bed Road
- 5/7: 2 p.m. - 7 p.m.
- Florence, Florence Police Department, 702 S Seminary Street
- 5/15: 10 a.m. - 3 p.m.
- 5/28: 2 p.m. - 7 p.m.
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.
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