COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa  — With no known end date to the coronavirus fight, the American Red Cross is encouraging healthy individuals to make appointments to donate blood or platelets to ensure blood remains readily available for patients who still rely on transfusions. The need for blood for trauma patients, children battling cancer, mothers experiencing childbirth complications, patients with sickle cell disease and others continues. Donated blood has a limited shelf life of 42 days for red cells and just five days for platelets, so the supply must constantly be replenished.

Make an appointment: Healthy individuals who are feeling well are asked to make an appointment to donate this May by downloading the free 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. Donors are asked to schedule an appointment prior to arriving at the drive and are required to wear a face covering or mask while at the drive, in alignment with Centers for Disease Control and Prevention public guidance. Each Red Cross blood drive and donation center follows the highest standards of safety and infection control, and additional precautions – including social distancing and face coverings for donors and staff – have been implemented to safeguard donors, volunteers and employees.

Upcoming blood donation opportunities May 1-15:

Cass County:  Atlantic –  5/14/2020: 12 p.m. – 6 p.m., Atlantic YMCA, 1100 Maple Street; Griswold – 5/14/2020: 11 a.m. – 5 p.m., Central Church of Christ, 51 Harrison

Harrison County: Mondamin – 5/15/2020: 12:15 p.m. – 5:30 p.m., Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, 206 Chestnut St

Mills County: Glenwood – 5/4/2020: 12 p.m. – 6 p.m., Trinity Lutheran Church, 512 2nd St.; 5/5/2020: 6:30 a.m. – 1 p.m., Glenwood High School, 504 East Sharp Street

Montgomery County: Red Oak – 5/11/2020: 12:30 p.m. – 5 p.m., Red Oak High School Auditorium, 2011 N 8th St.

Ringgold County: Mount Ayr – 5/12/2020: 11 a.m. – 5 p.m., First Christian Church, 201 W Monroe

Shelby County: Earling – 5/4/2020: 12 p.m. – 6 p.m., St. Joseph’s Hall, 118 Main Street; Harlan – 5/4/2020: 7:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m., Petersen Family Wellness Center, 1213 Chatburn Avenue; 5/12/2020: 11:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m., Veteran’s Memorial Building, 1104 Morningview

Taylor County: Lenox – 5/6/2020: 12 p.m. – 6 p.m., Community Center, 210 E. Dallas St

How to donate blood: Simply download the American Red Cross Blood Donor App, visit RedCrossBlood.org, call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) or enable the Blood Donor Skill on any Alexa Echo device to make an appointment or for more information. All blood types are needed to ensure a reliable supply for patients. A blood donor card or driver’s license or two other forms of identification are required at check-in. Individuals who are 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. To get started, follow the instructions at RedCrossBlood.org/RapidPass or use the Blood Donor App.