CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) -- The American Red Cross is urging healthy donors of all blood types to donate blood or platelets and help ensure a stable blood supply for patients amid the COVID-19 pandemic and this holiday season.
The traditional slump in blood donations between Thanksgiving and New Year’s comes as the blood supply already faces challenges created by the coronavirus pandemic. Required medical treatments and emergencies don’t pause for the holidays or a widespread coronavirus outbreak.
Make your appointment to give blood, platelets, or plasma with the Red Cross 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.
In thanks for making time to donate around Thanksgiving, those who come to give blood Nov. 25-28 will receive an exclusive Red Cross long-sleeved T-shirt, courtesy of Suburban Propane, while supplies last
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 an individual developed COVID-19 symptoms. 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 donation collected from COVID-19 survivors that have antibodies that may help patients who are actively fighting the virus.
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COVID-19 antibody test results will be available within one to two weeks in the Red Cross Blood Donor App or donor portal at RedCrossBlood.org. A positive antibody test result does not confirm infection or immunity. 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.
Each Red Cross blood drive and donation center follows the highest standards of safety and infection control, and additional precautions – including temperature checks, social distancing and face coverings for donors and staff – have been implemented to help protect the health of all those in attendance. 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.
Upcoming blood donation opportunities:
Cook County:
Calumet City
• Nov. 24: 10 a.m. - 3 p.m., Calumet City Fire Department, 24 E State St.
Chicago
• Nov. 16: 11:45 a.m. - 7 p.m., The R. Scott Falk Family Blood Donation Site, Rauner Center, 2200 W Harrison
• Nov. 16: 1 p.m. - 6 p.m., Northwestern Memorial Hospital Feinberg Pavilion, 251 E. Huron, Conference Room A - Third Floor
• Nov. 17: 9 a.m. - 3 p.m., Ignite Glass Studios, 401 N Armour St
• Nov. 17: 11:45 a.m. - 7 p.m., The R. Scott Falk Family Blood Donation Site, Rauner Center, 2200 W Harrison
• Nov. 18: 9 a.m. - 3 p.m., Pinstripes, 435 E Illinois St
• Nov. 18: 11:45 a.m. - 7 p.m., The R. Scott Falk Family Blood Donation Site, Rauner Center, 2200 W Harrison
• Nov. 18: 3:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m., Apostolic Faith Church, 3823 S. Indiana Avenue
• Nov. 19: 9 a.m. - 3 p.m., Aloft Chicago Mag Mile, 243 E Ontario St
• Nov. 20: 7:45 a.m. - 3 p.m., The R. Scott Falk Family Blood Donation Site, Rauner Center, 2200 W Harrison
• Nov. 20: 10 a.m. - 3 p.m., 425 S Financial Place, 425 S. Financial Pl, 2nd Floor Conference Room
• Nov. 21: 7:45 a.m. - 3 p.m., The R. Scott Falk Family Blood Donation Site, Rauner Center, 2200 W Harrison
• Nov. 23: 9 a.m. - 3 p.m., American Red Cross of Greater Chicago and Northern Illinois, 2200 West Harrison Street
• Nov. 23: 11:45 a.m. - 7 p.m., The R. Scott Falk Family Blood Donation Site, Rauner Center, 2200 W Harrison
• Nov. 24: 11:45 a.m. - 7 p.m., The R. Scott Falk Family Blood Donation Site, Rauner Center, 2200 W Harrison
• Nov. 25: 9 a.m. - 3 p.m., American Red Cross of Greater Chicago and Northern Illinois, 2200 West Harrison Street
• Nov. 25: 11:45 a.m. - 7 p.m., The R. Scott Falk Family Blood Donation Site, Rauner Center, 2200 W Harrison
• Nov. 27: 7:45 a.m. - 3 p.m., The R. Scott Falk Family Blood Donation Site, Rauner Center, 2200 W Harrison
• Nov. 28: 7:45 a.m. - 3 p.m., The R. Scott Falk Family Blood Donation Site, Rauner Center, 2200 W Harrison
• Nov. 29: 9 a.m. - 2 p.m., St Matthias, 4910 N. Claremont
• Nov. 30: 9 a.m. - 2 p.m., 300 North LaSalle, 300 North LaSalle
• Nov. 30: 11:45 a.m. - 7 p.m., The R. Scott Falk Family Blood Donation Site, Rauner Center, 2200 W Harrison
• Dec. 1: 11:45 a.m. - 7 p.m., The R. Scott Falk Family Blood Donation Site, Rauner Center, 2200 W Harrison
• Dec. 2: 9 a.m. - 3 p.m., DePaul Center, 1 E Jackson Blvd
• Dec. 2: 11:45 a.m. - 7 p.m., The R. Scott Falk Family Blood Donation Site, Rauner Center, 2200 W Harrison
• Dec. 3: 9 a.m. - 2 p.m., Cook County Human Resources, George Dunne Administration Building, 69 West Washington
• Dec. 4: 7:45 a.m. - 3 p.m., The R. Scott Falk Family Blood Donation Site, Rauner Center, 2200 W Harrison
• Dec. 5: 7:45 a.m. - 3 p.m., The R. Scott Falk Family Blood Donation Site, Rauner Center, 2200 W Harrison
Des Plaines
• Nov. 16: 12:30 p.m. - 5:30 p.m., Aloft Chicago O'Hare, 9700 Balmoral Avenue
La Grange
• Nov. 25: 10 a.m. - 3 p.m., American Legion Post 1941, 900 South La Grange Road
Lincolnwood
• Nov. 27: 1 p.m. - 6 p.m., Lincolnwood Town Center, 3333 W Touhy Ave
Lyons
• Dec. 1: 9 a.m. - 2 p.m., Community Center, 4200 Lawndale Ave
Northbrook
• Dec. 3: 10 a.m. - 3 p.m., Northbrook Court, 1515 Lake Cook Road
Palatine
• Dec. 3: 11 a.m. - 4 p.m., Buehler YMCA, 1400 W Northwest Hwy
Schaumburg
• Nov. 17: 9 a.m. - 2 p.m., Fairfield Inn Suites by Marriott, 700 National Parkway
Tinley Park
• Nov. 23: 10 a.m. - 3 p.m., Orland Toyota, 8505 W. !59th St.
DuPage County:
Oak Brook
• Nov. 19: 10 a.m. - 3 p.m., Oakbrook Center, 100 Oakbrook Center
Kankakee County:
Bourbonnais
• Nov. 19: Noon - 6 p.m., The Annex, 1690 Newtowne Dr
• Nov. 27: 9 a.m. - 2 p.m., The Annex, 1690 Newtowne Dr
• Dec. 3: Noon - 6 p.m., The Annex, 1690 Newtowne Dr
Momence
• Nov. 16: 2 p.m. - 6 p.m., Momence Fire Department, 15 N Pine
Saint Anne
• Nov. 17: 12 p.m. - 5:30 p.m., St. Anne Parish Hall, 230 N. Sixth
Lake County:
Lake Bluff
• Dec. 2: 9 a.m. - 2 p.m., The Sleep Inn Lake Bluff Hotel, 3250 Bittersweet Ave.
Will County:
Joliet
• Dec. 2: Noon - 5 p.m., Assembly Hall, 1550 Plainfield Road
Romeoville
• Nov. 27: 8 a.m. - 1 p.m., American Red Cross, 1293 Windham Parkway
• Nov. 30: 9 a.m. - 3 p.m., Romeoville Recreation Center, 900 W Romeo Rd