NEW JERSEY — The American Red Cross is urgently calling on blood and platelet donors to step up and help stabilize the national blood supply, particularly stressing the need for Type O blood as August approaches.
Even when supply levels appear healthy, sudden drops can occur—jeopardizing the availability of lifesaving blood products for patients in critical need, such as trauma victims, cancer patients, and new mothers.
To help ensure a steady flow of donations, the Red Cross is encouraging eligible individuals to schedule an appointment to give blood or platelets. Appointments can be made by visiting RedCrossBlood.org, calling 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767), or using the Red Cross Blood Donor App.
Special Incentives for Donors:
- Now through July 31: Donors will receive a Fandango Movie Reward via email.
- Aug. 1–28: Donors will receive a $15 e-gift card to a merchant of their choice. The Red Cross will also provide a free A1C test—used to screen for prediabetes and diabetes—on successful donations (limited to one test result every 12 months). Visit RedCrossBlood.org/Test for details.
- Who Can Donate:
Eligible donors must be at least 17 years old in most states (16 with parental consent where permitted), weigh at least 110 pounds, and be in general good health. Additional requirements may apply for high school students and other donors under age 19.
Faster Donation with RapidPass®:
Donors can save time by using RapidPass®, which allows them to complete their pre-donation reading and health history questionnaire online on the day of their donation. Details are available at RedCrossBlood.org/RapidPass.
The Red Cross emphasizes that every donation helps save lives and ensures hospitals are prepared for emergencies year-round.
