IOLA — The American Red Cross is celebrating Red Cross Month in March.
A blood drive is planned from 11:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Wednesday and from 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Thursday at the North Community Building Meeting Room.
According to the Red Cross, someone in the U.S. needs blood every two seconds to respond to patient emergencies. Accident and burn victims, heart surgery and organ transplant patients, and those receiving treatment for leukemia, cancer or sickle cell disease may all require blood. All blood types are needed.
To make an appointment or to learn more, download the American Red Cross Blood Donor App, visit RedCrossBlood.org and enter Sponsor Code IolaKS, call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800- 733-2767) or enable the Blood Donor Skill on any Alexa Echo device. Completion of a RapidPass® online health history questionnaire is encouraged to help speed up the donation process. To get started, follow the instructions at RedCrossBlood.org/RapidPass or use the Blood Donor App.
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.
