Red Cross seeks donors during Breast Cancer Awareness Month

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month and the American Red Cross is reminding the public that blood and platelet donors are needed to ensure blood is on the shelves for breast cancer patients and others who rely on transfusion for survival.
In thanks for banding together to meet the needs of patients, the Red Cross will send those who come to give Oct. 15-Nov. 15 a $5 amazon.com gift card via email, courtesy of Suburban Propane. Plus, those who come to donate in October are automatically entered for a chance to win a $1,000 amazon.com gift card. Five people will win a gift card.
Below is more information about upcoming blood donation opportunities in the community.
Donors are asked to make appointments by downloading the Red Cross Blood Donor App, visiting RedCrossBlood.org, calling 1-800-733-2767, or enabling the Blood Donor Skill on any Alexa Echo device.
Cancer patients undergoing surgery and chemotherapy may require red blood cell or platelet transfusions. In fact, patients fighting cancer need more blood than those with any other disease, using nearly one-quarter of the nation's blood supply.
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, regardless of whether an individual developed CVOVID-19 symptoms. Red Cross antibody tests will be helpful to identify individuals who have COVID-19 antibodies and may now help current coronavirus patients in need of convalescent plasma transfusions. Convalescent plasma is a type of blood donation collected from COVID-19 survivors that have antibodies that may help patients who are actively fighting the virus.
COVID-19 antibody test results will be available within one to two weeks in the Red Cross Blood Donor App or donor portal at RedCrossBlood.org. A positive antibody test result does not confirm infection or immunity.

Upcoming area blood donation opportunities Oct. 15-31:
Marshall - Oct. 23, 9 a.m.-2 p.m. at YMCA, 200 S. A St.
Ivanhoe - Oct. 29, 1-7 p.m. at Bethany Elim Lutheran, 102 S. Highway 5
Marshall - Oct. 30, 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at Western Mental Health Center, 1212 E. College Drive

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