For Immediate Release – Press Release

Red Cross teams with NFL to urge blood and plasma donation during National Blood Donor Month

 ST. LOUIS, Mo. (Jan. 5, 2021) – The American Red Cross and the National Football League are teaming up this January, during National Blood Donor Month, to urge individuals – especially those who have recovered from COVID-19 – to give blood and to help tackle the national convalescent plasma shortage. Right now, more donors are needed to help hospital patients.

During this critical time, the Red Cross and NFL are thrilled to offer all those who come to donate an opportunity to receive a special thank you this month. Those who come to donate blood or platelets this January will be automatically entered to win two tickets to next year’s Super Bowl LVI in Los Angeles.* In addition, those who come to give January 1-20, will also be automatically entered to win the Big Game at Home package for an awesome viewing experience safely at home, with a 65-inch television and a $500 gift card to put toward food and fun.**

Individuals can schedule an appointment to give blood today with the American Red Cross by visiting RedCrossBlood.org, using the Red Cross Blood Donor App, calling 1-800-RED-CROSS or activating the Blood Scheduling Skill for Amazon Alexa.

“Blood and plasma donors who have recovered from COVID-19 may have the power to help critically ill patients currently battling the virus,” said Dr. Erin Goodhue, Red Cross medical director of clinical services. “With hospital distributions for convalescent plasma increasing about 250% since October, these generous donations are vital in helping to save lives throughout the winter – a time that is often challenging to collect enough blood products for those in need.”

As COVID-19 cases have risen across the U.S., so has the need for convalescent plasma – leading to a shortage of this potentially lifesaving blood product. Like “special teams” units on the field, COVID-19 survivors have a unique ability to make a game-changing difference in the lives of COVID-19 patients. Individuals who have recovered from COVID-19 may have antibodies in their plasma that could provide a patient’s immune system the boost it needs to beat the virus.

How those recovered from COVID-19 can help

There are two ways COVID-19 survivors can help – through a convalescent plasma donation or by simply giving whole blood. Plasma from whole blood donations that test positive for COVID-19 antibodies may be used to help COVID-19 patients. Health emergencies don’t pause for holidays, game days or a pandemic – blood is needed every two seconds in the U.S. to help patients battling injury and illness.

Blood donation safety precautions

To protect the health and safety of Red Cross staff and donors, individuals who do not feel well or who believe they may be ill with COVID-19 should postpone their 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 (Jan. 5-31, 2021):

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Christian

Assumption

1/28/2021: 11 a.m. – 3 p.m., Kemmerer Village, 941 N  2500 East Rd

Pana

1/6/2021: 1 p.m. – 6 p.m., First United Methodist Church, 619 Kitchell

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Clay

Flora

1/22/2021: 2 p.m. – 6 p.m., Flora First United Methodist Church, 103 E. 3rd Street

Louisville

1/25/2021: 2 p.m. – 6 p.m., Full Armor Christian Academy, 600 Erwin Street

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Coles

Charleston

1/20/2021: 12 p.m. – 4 p.m., Eastern Illinois University Charleston, EIU Student Union (parking lot/Doudna), 1720 7th Street

1/26/2021: 11 a.m. – 3 p.m., St Charles Borromeo  – Extra, 921 Madison

1/29/2021: 9 a.m. – 3 p.m., Charleston High School, 1603 Lincoln Avenue

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Crawford

Hutsonville

1/12/2021: 2 p.m. – 6 p.m., Hutsonville High School, 500 West Clover Street

Palestine

1/27/2021: 12:30 p.m. – 5:30 p.m., Palestine High School, 102 North Main Street

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Effingham

Effingham

1/5/2021: 12:15 p.m. – 7:15 p.m., Effingham Blood Donation Center, 603 Eden Ave

1/6/2021: 12:15 p.m. – 7:15 p.m., Effingham Blood Donation Center, 603 Eden Ave

1/7/2021: 12:15 p.m. – 6:45 p.m., Effingham Blood Donation Center, 603 Eden Ave

1/9/2021: 7:45 a.m. – 2:15 p.m., Effingham Blood Donation Center, 603 Eden Ave

1/12/2021: 12:15 p.m. – 6:45 p.m., Effingham Blood Donation Center, 603 Eden Ave

1/13/2021: 12:15 p.m. – 6:45 p.m., Effingham Blood Donation Center, 603 Eden Ave

1/14/2021: 12:15 p.m. – 6:45 p.m., Effingham Blood Donation Center, 603 Eden Ave

1/16/2021: 7:45 a.m. – 2:15 p.m., Effingham Blood Donation Center, 603 Eden Ave

1/19/2021: 12:15 p.m. – 6:45 p.m., Effingham Blood Donation Center, 603 Eden Ave

1/20/2021: 12:15 p.m. – 6:45 p.m., Effingham Blood Donation Center, 603 Eden Ave

1/21/2021: 12:15 p.m. – 6:45 p.m., Effingham Blood Donation Center, 603 Eden Ave

1/23/2021: 7:45 a.m. – 2:15 p.m., Effingham Blood Donation Center, 603 Eden Ave

1/26/2021: 12:15 p.m. – 6:45 p.m., Effingham Blood Donation Center, 603 Eden Ave

1/26/2021: 2 p.m. – 6 p.m., Effingham Event Center, 1501 West Fayette

1/27/2021: 12:15 p.m. – 6:45 p.m., Effingham Blood Donation Center, 603 Eden Ave

1/28/2021: 12:15 p.m. – 6:45 p.m., Effingham Blood Donation Center, 603 Eden Ave

1/30/2021: 7:45 a.m. – 2:15 p.m., Effingham Blood Donation Center, 603 Eden Ave

Mason

1/25/2021: 2 p.m. – 6 p.m., Mason Christian Church Annex, 624 North Route 37

Teutopolis

1/5/2021: 1 p.m. – 6 p.m., Teutopolis Banquet Hall, 210 S Pearl

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Fayette

Ramsey

1/14/2021: 2 p.m. – 6 p.m., American Legion Hall, East 5th Street

Vandalia

1/12/2021: 12 p.m. – 6 p.m., Vandalia Moose Lodge, 328 South 3rd Street

1/19/2021: 1:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m., Zimmerman’s Greenhouse, 1386 East 1050 Avenue

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Richland

Noble

1/18/2021: 2 p.m. – 6 p.m., Noble Lions Club Building, 112 West South Avenue

Olney

1/14/2021: 1 p.m. – 6 p.m., VFW, 205 North Walnut

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Shelby

Shelbyville

1/21/2021: 12 p.m. – 6 p.m., First Baptist Church, 1000 West North 6th

1/22/2021: 2:30 p.m. – 7 p.m., Shelbyville Fire Department, 110 N Heinlein Dr.

Tower Hill

1/25/2021: 2 p.m. – 6 p.m., Tower Hill Christian Church, 102 Ontario St