American Red Cross
The American Red Cross urges individuals to give lifesaving blood or platelets now as seasonal travel ramps up. Donors of all blood types are essential this April to help keep the blood supply stable and ready to support patients in need.
Spring break and upcoming holidays can disrupt donor giving patterns. With record breaking travel expected, including 173 million Americans flying in the weeks ahead, people are encouraged to build a blood or platelet donation into their seasonal plans. The impact of busy spring calendars comes on the heels of an incredibly challenging winter, where tens of thousands of blood products went uncollected due to weather. Donors are asked to make and keep donation appointments this spring to keep the blood supply rising. Platelets and type O blood are especially needed right now.
Help hope bloom for patients in need – give blood or platelets now by visiting RedCrossBlood.org, calling 1-800-RED CROSS or by using the Red Cross Blood Donor App. All donors who come to give in April will be automatically entered for a chance to win a $5,000 gift card. There will be three lucky winners! Those who come to give April 1-13, 2025, will receive a $15 Amazon.com Gift Card by email. Those who come to give later in the month, April 14-30, 2025, will receive an exclusive Red Cross T-shirt, while supplies last. Details on all April donor gifts can be found at RedCrossBlood.org/Hope.
In North Platte, those who come to give at the Red Cross Donation Center at 1111 S. Cottonwood Street, will have the opportunity to pick an extra gift from the prize basket. Items include gift certificates for local businesses, free food, and much more. This promotion is only valid at the Cottonwood Donation Center and only through Easter Sunday, April 20, 2025.
To make an appointment or to learn more, 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. Completion of a RapidPass® online health history questionnaire is encouraged to help speed up the donation process. To get started, follow the instructions at RedCrossBlood.org/RapidPass or use the Blood Donor App.
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.