The Idaho Steelheads and the American Red Cross encourage donors to help patients get back in the game by donating blood Tuesday, Jan. 2, at the first-ever Blood and Ice Blood Drive at the Grove Hotel, 245 S. Capitol Blvd. from noon to 6 p.m.
“Fans will have the opportunity to give more life and hope during a very critical time of the year for blood donations,” said Nicole Irwin, regional CEO, Red Cross of Idaho & Montana. “Donations tend to decline during December, especially around the holidays. However, the need for blood remains constant throughout the holidays.”
Donations decline during the time between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Day when busy holiday schedules cause regular donors to be less available to give and many blood drives may be canceled due to severe winter storms. Last year, nearly 64,000 fewer blood and platelet donations were given through the Red Cross during the seven weeks from Thanksgiving through the first week of January than the average during the rest of the year.
As a thank-you, all those who come to give blood will receive two free tickets to a 2018 Idaho Steelheads game and a long-sleeved Red Cross T-shirt, while supplies last.
Blood and platelet donations are needed every day for patients with many serious medical conditions. Accident and burn victims, heart surgery patients, organ transplant patients, and those receiving treatment for leukemia, cancer or sickle cell disease may all need blood.
To make an appointment, download the Red Cross Blood Donor app, visit redcrossblood.org or call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) and use sponsor code grove.
How to donate blood or platelets
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, from a computer or mobile device. To get started and learn more, visit redcrossblood.org/RapidPass and follow the instructions on the site.