DECEMBER 9, 2015

Red Cross asks for blood donations this holiday season

Be part of something meaningful by giving blood!

The American Red Cross encourages eligible donors to end the year with real meaning by donating blood for hospital patients in need.

Holiday activities, severe weather and seasonal illnesses, like the flu, can pull people away from their regular blood donation schedules. This creates a greater need for blood donations this time of year, especially around the winter holidays. To encourage donations, all those who come to donate Dec. 23, 2015, through Jan. 3, 2016, will get a long-sleeve Red Cross T-shirt, while supplies last.

Jamie Czesak made her first blood donation on Dec. 27, 2013. “As I spent Christmas with my family, I realized how lucky I was to have my health and how we never really know when our last Christmas will be. I decided that I would face my fears and do one of the few things I can do to help save someone's life ̶ donate blood.”

Healthy donors with all blood types are needed, especially those with types AB, O, B negative and A negative. To make an appointment to donate blood, download the free Red Cross Blood Donor App from app stores, visit redcrossblood.org or call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767). Donors can now use the Blood Donor App to access their donor card and view vital signs from previous donations.

Upcoming blood donation opportunities:
Chandler
Dec. 27 from 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at Hilton Phoenix Chandler, 2929 W. Frye Road
Dec. 29 from 2 to 6 p.m. at Chandler Gilbert Family YMCA, 1655 W. Frye Road

Mesa
Dec. 17 from 10:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. at A.T. Still University School of Health Sciences, 5850 E. Still Circle Drive
Dec. 18 from 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at MidFirst Bank, 1930 S. Greenfield Road Dec. 22 from noon to 4:30 p.m. at Mesa Main Library, 64 E. 1st St.
Dec. 29 from 2 to 7 p.m. at LDS Citrus Heights Stake, 3920 E. Brown Road
Dec. 30 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Walmart, 1710 S. Greenfield Road
Dec. 30 from noon to 5 p.m. at Red Mountain Library, 635 N. Power Road
Dec. 31 from 8:45 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Ross Farnsworth - East Valley YMCA, 1807 S. Sunview

Peoria
Dec. 19 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at MidFirst Bank, 24810 North Lake Pleasant Parkway
Dec. 17 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at 4600 Washington Building, 4600 E. Washington, 3rd Floor
Dec. 20 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at American Legion Pat Tillman Post 117, 16428 N. 32nd St. #101
Dec. 23 from 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at Madison Gardens, 808 E. Missouri Ave.
Dec. 27 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Castles n Coasters, 9445 Metro Parkway E.
Dec. 28 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at MidFirst Bank, 4750 E. Chandler Blvd.

Scottsdale
Dec. 17 from 1 to 5:30 p.m. at Appaloosa Library, 7377 E. Silverstone Drive
Dec. 21 from noon to 5 p.m. at Arabian Library, 10215 E. McDowell Mount Ranch Road
Dec. 23 from noon to 5 p.m. at Mustang Library, 10101 N. 90th St.

Sun City W.
Dec. 18 from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Palm Ridge Recreation Center, 13800 W. Deer Valley Drive

Wickenburg
Dec. 21 from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at Horspitality RV Resort, 51802 Highway 60-89

How to donate blood
Simply download the American Red Cross Blood Donor App, visit redcrossblood.org or call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) 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 (16 with parental consent in some states), 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 donors can now 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, prior to arriving at the blood drive. To get started, visit redcrossblood.org/RapidPass and follow the instructions on the site.