Those who come to give blood or platelets April 1-15 through the American Red Cross will automatically be entered to win a VIP trip for four to the 2022 Indianapolis 500®.
The Red Cross will also automatically enter all who come to give in April for a chance to win one of five $1,000 e-gift cards to a merchant of choice.
Schedule a donation appointment by downloading the Red Cross Blood Donor App, visiting RedCrossBlood.org, calling 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) or enabling the Blood Donor Skill on any Alexa Echo device.
The Red Cross needs all blood types to ensure a reliable supply for patients. Donors must show a blood donor card or driver’s license or two other forms of identification at check-in. Individuals 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.
Blood and platelet donors can save time at their next donation by using RapidPass to complete their pre-donation reading and health history questionnaire online, on the day of their donation, before arriving at the blood drive. Follow the instructions at RedCrossBlood.org/RapidPass or use the Blood Donor App.
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 they developed symptoms. Testing may also identify the presence of antibodies developed after receiving a COVID-19 vaccine. 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 product collected from COVID-19 survivors. They have antibodies that may help patients actively fighting the virus. Plasma from whole blood donations that test positive for high levels of COVID-19 antibodies may help COVID-19 patients.
Donors can expect to receive the results of their antibody test within two weeks through the Red Cross Blood Donor App or the donor portal at RedCrossBlood.org. The Red Cross is not testing donors to diagnose illness, referred to as a diagnostic test. To protect the health and safety of Red Cross staff and donors, it is important that individuals who do not feel well or believe they may be ill with COVID-19 postpone donation.
More details
Each Red Cross blood drive and donation center follows the highest standards of safety and infection control, and additional precautions. These include temperature checks, social distancing and face coverings for donors and staff. This helps protect the health of all those in attendance. Donors should schedule an appointment prior to arriving at the drive. They must wear a face covering or mask while at the drive, in alignment with Centers for Disease Control and Prevention public guidance.
Additional details are available at RedCrossBlood.org/Indy500.
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The Government Agency that Instantly DENIED thousands of Veterans who served in Europe in the 80s & 90s over Fears of Mad Cow Disease is going to Require us to call in to clear us to donate? They didn’t call us to DQ & Defer us. Why can’t they Unilaterally remove that restriction? It’s been 35 friggin years & no Mad Cows here.
I Live in Monte Vista, Colorado. Not a Sight Anywhere to Donate Blood with in 300 Miles. No Drives, No Vehicle to come down here in the Lower Part of the State. What a Shame. What a Loss to the RED CROSS, and Their Needing Blood.
I’m Willing to give, Able to give, and NO Way to give. Michael, CO.
If you lived in EUROPE in the 80’s. The CDC has removed GERMANY from the can’t donate list.
Go to RedCrossBlood.org/Indy500, scroll to the bottom of the page and open the “Terms and Conditions”. Then click the links for the official rules which allows for an email entry to the giveaway without a blood donation.
The article indicates that “Those who come to give blood or platelets April 1-15 through the American Red Cross will automatically be entered to win”…. it doesn’t specifically say that you have to give blood or platelets. I read this as show up, and even if you are unable to donate, you are entered in the contest. So Scott, Michael, and the rest of you who want a chance to win a trip to the 500, just “show up”. As the saying goes… showing up is half the battle. At least that is the way I read it.
Another perk I cannot get. Have prostate cancer and they cannot use my blood.
After being forced to give for 10 years, red cross, does NOT honor the free blood for life, after 3 gallons. Scam, used to give 1st ladies an income stream……………….
Is there any research being done to allow non-symptomatic “mad cow” blood donation? It’s been 30 years…
I’m in the same aircraft. I’m always denied and I’ve been tested to find it’s not there.
I would love to donate blood, but the FDA still thinks I’m a mad cow. Thousands of veterans are not eligible to donate since we were stationed in Europe, even if we did not eat the mad cows in England.
They have changed that, you just need to call them so they can update your information. I have started donating again after many years of not being able to.
Thank You for a chance to win a trip to the 500. But a lot of Veterans are not allowed to give blood since they were stationed in a country that they could get Creutzfeld-Jakob Disease and Blood Donation so this is an unfair contest so thanks again for such a grate contest.
Is there a way for veterans to participate who, due to the nature of their military service, are unable to donate blood?