Red Cross offers 3 ways to make saving lives easier than ever

Red Cross offers 3 ways to make saving lives easier than ever
Mobile and online tools help make donating blood more convenient. South Windsor CT, (12-3-2017) — The holidays are known for the giving spirit and a hectic pace. This holiday
season, the American Red Cross is sharing three ways to give the gift of life in less time.
At this time of year many regular blood donors delay giving due to busy
schedules– but the need for blood remains. To help donors fit in a donation, the Red Cross
offers three easy ways to make helping save lives faster and more convenient:
 RapidPass® – Donors can complete their pre-donation reading and health history
questions online to save about 15 minutes at their donation. In September, RapidPass
became available on mobile devices, giving donors the ability to complete their
RapidPass from a smartphone, tablet or computer.
 Blood Donor App – Through the 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 – all from the palm of their hand.
 Online appointment scheduling – Donors can conveniently schedule an appointment and
find tips for a successful blood or platelet donation at redcrossblood.org.
“The Red Cross is thankful for the generosity of donors who help keep hospital shelves stocked
with lifesaving blood products, but we know that the holiday activities that we cherish most can
make it difficult for many regular donors to find a moment to donate this time of year,” said
Alissa Haight Aguda, Recruitment & Outreach, American Red Cross Blood Services. “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.”
Patients don’t get a holiday break from needing lifesaving transfusions, and all blood types are
needed to ensure a reliable supply is available. Appointments can be made by downloading the
free Red Cross Blood Donor App, visiting redcrossblood.org or calling 1-800-RED CROSS (1-
800-733-2767). To learn more about RapidPass, visit redcrossblood.org/RapidPass and follow
the instructions on the site.

Upcoming blood donation opportunities:

12/5/2017 Temple Beth Hillel - South Windsor

12/6/2017 Columbia Fire Department Columbia

12/6/2017 Weymouth Road Fire Station Enfield

12/7/2017 South Windsor Town Hall -Sponsored By Lions Club South Windsor

12/9/2017 Our Savior Lutheran Church South Windsor

12/13/2017 St. Francis of Assisi -Sponsored By Knights of Columbus South Windsor

12/15/2017 Asnuntuck Community College Enfield

12/20/2017 South Windsor Fire Department South Windsor

12/20/2017 Somers Town Hall Somers

12/21/2017 East Brook Mall Willimantic

12/22/2017 The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints Manchester

12/22/2017 Vernon Manor Vernon Rockville

12/22/2017 Manchester Memorial Hospital Manchester

How to donate blood
A blood donor card or driver’s license or two other forms of identification are required at checkin.
Individuals who are 17 years of age in most states (16 with parental consent where allowed
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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.
About the American Red Cross
The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides emotional support to victims of disasters;
supplies about 40 percent of the nation’s blood; teaches skills that save lives; provides
international humanitarian aid; and supports military members and their families. The Red Cross
is a not-for-profit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American
public to perform its mission. For more information, please visit redcross.org or
cruzrojaamericana.org, or visit us on Twitter at @RedCross.
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