Red Cross Blood Drive set for January 9th in Chinook at Wallner Hall

The next American Red Cross Blood Drive will be Tuesday, January 9th in Chinook at Wallner Hall. The Red Cross will be accepting walk-ins only from 12:30 p.m. - 1:00 p.m. Appointments and walk-ins will be accepted between 1:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m..

Appointments are highly encouraged by the American Red Cross. So, if you have not made an appointment you can go on-line at redcrossblood.org or call 1-800-733-2767 (1-800-REDCROSS).

Any healthy person age 18 (or age 16 or 17 with a signed parental consent) or older and weighing at least 110 pounds is eligible and encouraged to donate blood. Valid identification is required for all blood donations (driver’s license or school ID are acceptable). Parental consents for those 16 or 17 years of age can be picked up at the high school office or at the registration table at Wallner Hall the day of the drive.

For those with an appointment, you can save up to 15 minutes at your donation by completing your Rapid Pass and the health history online the day of the drive. All you have to do is visit redcrossblood.org/rapidpass. Rapid Pass can only be completed the day of the drive and only if you have an appointment.

Before you donate, it is recommended that you: Get a good night’s sleep; Have a good breakfast or lunch; and drink extra water and fluids to replace the volume you will donate. The Red Cross also encourages those that are donating to eat foods high in iron such as meat and eggs, seafood, vegetables, bread and cereal, fruit and beans. Foods and drugs that can decrease iron absorption include coffee or tea, chocolate, high fiber foods and some medications like antacids so avoiding these will increase your chances of being able to donate.

Please keep in mind that your blood donation is VERY important. Every two seconds, someone in America needs blood and hospitals need 44,000 units of blood every day to meet patient needs. We hope to see you there and encourage you to bring a friend.