WILMINGTON — The American Red Cross is offering three options to make it easier for the public to donate blood and platelets during the holiday season.
According to the Red Cross, a decline in donations occurs from Thanksgiving to New Year’s Day, when donors are busy with holiday activities and travel.
“However, patients don’t get a holiday break from needing lifesaving transfusions,” a press release states.
The Red Cross offers three ways to make saving lives easier and more convenient during the holiday season:
RapidPass
Donors can complete a pre-donation reading and health history questionnaire online. This saves about 15 minutes of time at the donation site. RapidPass is available on mobile devices.
Blood Donor mobile application
Through the mobile Red Cross Blood Donor App, users can find local blood drives and donation centers, schedule an appointment, receive appointment reminders and keep track of total blood donations. (Find the app on iTunes or Google Play)
Online appointment scheduling
Donors can conveniently schedule appointments and find tips for a successful blood or platelet donation at redcrossblood.org.
You can also find a blood drive by calling 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767).
“We hope technologies like online appointment scheduling, the Blood Donor App and RapidPass will make it a little easier for donors to give more life for patients this holiday season,” Franklin said.
Upcoming blood drives:
Brunswick County
Bolivia, Wednesday, Nov. 29, 9 a.m. – 2 p.m., Brunswick Community College, 50 College Road
Leland, Friday, Dec. 1, 2:15 p.m. – 6:15 p.m., Brunswick Forest Community Blood Drive, 2701 Brunswick Forest Parkway
Shallotte, Tuesday, Dec. 5, 11 a.m. – 3 p.m., St. Brendan Roman Catholic Church, 5101 Ocean Hwy. West
New Hanover County
Carolina Beach, Wednesday, Dec. 13, 1 p.m. – 5:30 p.m., The Lazy Pirate Carolina Beach, 701 N. Lake Park Blvd.
Wilmington
Wednesday, Nov. 22, 9 a.m. – 2:30 p.m., Wilmington Blood Donation Center, 1102 South 16th St.
Friday, Nov. 24, 8 a.m. – 1:30 p.m., Wilmington Blood Donation Center, 1102 South 16th St.
Monday, Nov. 27, 1 p.m. – 6:30 p.m., Wilmington Blood Donation Center, 1102 South 16th St.
Tuesday, Nov. 28, 10:30 a.m. – 4 p.m., University NC Wilmington, 601 S. College Road
Wednesday, Nov. 29, 7 a.m. – 11:30 a.m., New Hanover Regional Medical Center, 2131 South 17th St.
Wednesday, Nov. 29, 11 a.m. – 4:30 p.m., Wilmington Blood Donation Center, 1102 South 16th St.
Wednesday, Nov. 29, 11:30 a.m. – 4 p.m., New Hanover Regional Medical Center, 2131 South 17th. St.
Friday, Dec. 1, 8 a.m. – 1:30 p.m., Wilmington Blood Donation Center, 1102 South 16th St.
Friday, Dec. 1, 9 a.m. – 2 p.m., New Hanover County Employees, 320 Chestnut St.
Monday, Dec. 4, 1 p.m. – 6:30 p.m., Wilmington Blood Donation Center, 1102 South 16th St.
Wednesday, Dec. 6, 11 a.m. – 4:30 p.m., Wilmington Blood Donation Center, 1102 South 16th St.
Friday, Dec. 8, 8 a.m. – 1:30 p.m., Wilmington Blood Donation Center, 1102 South 16th St.
Monday, Dec. 11, 1 p.m. – 6:30 p.m., Wilmington Blood Donation Center, 1102 South 16th St.
Wednesday, Dec. 13, 11 a.m. – 4:30 p.m., Wilmington Blood Donation Center, 1102 South 16th St.
Friday, Dec. 15, 8 a.m. – 1:30 p.m., Wilmington Blood Donation Center, 1102 South 16th St.
Pender County
Burgaw, Tuesday, Dec. 12, 2 p.m. – 7 p.m., Pender Memorial Hospital, 507 E. Fremont and Wednesday, Dec. 13, 8:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m., Pender High School, 5380 Hwy. 53 West
Hampstead, Monday, Dec. 4, 1:30 p.m. – 6 p.m., Hampstead United Methodist Church, 15395 US Hwy. 17
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