Red Cross bloodmobile scheduled at CCS later this month
The American Red Cross blood drive will be held at the auxiliary gym at Chase County Schools (CCS) Thursday, Jan. 21, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Red Cross has issued a “critical need alert,” asking people to step up and donate.
The goal for this blood drive is 80 units, said Angie Paisley, school drive coordinator.
The entrance to the gym will be through the northeast doors, Paisley said.
As always, donors should bring a picture I.D.
Appointment scheduling
Appointments to give blood can be made online at red crossblood.org, call 1-800-RED-CROSS (1-800-733-2767).
To get a RapidPass on the day of a blood donation, donors should visit redcross blood.org/rapidpass, complete the questionnaire, then print the RapidPass and bring it with them.
The completed RapidPass form can be shown on a mobile device, as well, when they come to donate, said Paisley.
Walk-ins are welcome.
COVID antibody tests
As in the past few months, all blood donations will be tested for COVID-19 antibodies.
An antibody test screens for antibodies in the blood, which are formed when fighting an infection like COVID-19.
An antibody test assesses whether the donor’s immune system has responded to the infection, not if the virus is currently present, as explained and authorized by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and may indicate if the donor’s immune system has produced antibodies to the coronavirus regardless of whether symptoms were developed.
A positive result indicates that an individual may have had previous exposure to the virus.
A negative result most likely means the individual has not been exposed to COVID-19.
The Red Cross is not testing donors to diagnose illness, including COVID-19.
The results of the antibody test will be available by logging into your blood donor account or online seven to 10 days after your donation at redcross blood.org.
If a donor has received the Pfizer or Moderna vaccination, there is no wait period for donating blood, said Zak Bernath of the Red Cross.
Those who have tested positive for COVID-19 or have been ill with it, once they recover and have no more symptoms, the Red Cross would love to have you donate your plasma, he said.
It’s used for what’s called convalescent plasma to give to hospitalized COVID patients because of the coronavirus antibodies it contains.
Masks required
For the safety of donors and in accordance with CDC guidelines, all donors are required to wear a face covering or mask.
If a donor does not have one, it will be provided.
The safety process on blood mobile day will be temperature checks, six foot distancing, hand sanitizer, wiping down surfaces and expanded deferral questions.
The Red Cross advises to take time to cool down before temp checks.
All staff and volunteers will wear gloves and masks, and observe social distancing. No extra people should attend with the donor.
Big prize drawings
To kick off 2021 in an epic way, the American Red Cross has teamed up with the NFL again this January to invite football fans and blood donors to join their lifesaving team and score big for patients in need, said a Red Cross news release.
All donors who give blood through Jan. 31 will be entered into a drawing for a chance to win two tickets to Super Bowl LVI in Los Angeles, California in February 2022.
The package will include two tickets to Super Bowl LVI, entry to the official NFL Tailgate party, tickets to Super Bowl Experience, round-trip airfare to Los Angeles, three-night hotel accommodations plus a $500 gift card for expenses.
As an extra thank you, donors will also be automatically entered to win the Big Game at Home package, which includes a big screen television and a $500 gift card.