BEGIN:VCALENDAR VERSION:2.0 PRODID:-//jEvents 2.0 for Joomla//EN CALSCALE:GREGORIAN METHOD:PUBLISH BEGIN:VTIMEZONE TZID:America/Chicago BEGIN:STANDARD DTSTART:20191103T010000 RDATE:20200308T030000 TZOFFSETFROM:-0500 TZOFFSETTO:-0600 TZNAME:America/Chicago CST END:STANDARD BEGIN:STANDARD DTSTART:20201101T010000 RDATE:20210314T030000 TZOFFSETFROM:-0500 TZOFFSETTO:-0600 TZNAME:America/Chicago CST END:STANDARD BEGIN:DAYLIGHT DTSTART:20191026T000000 RDATE:20191103T010000 TZOFFSETFROM:-0600 TZOFFSETTO:-0500 TZNAME:America/Chicago CDT END:DAYLIGHT BEGIN:DAYLIGHT DTSTART:20200308T030000 RDATE:20201101T010000 TZOFFSETFROM:-0600 TZOFFSETTO:-0500 TZNAME:America/Chicago CDT END:DAYLIGHT END:VTIMEZONE BEGIN:VEVENT UID:885423b3457078473e92d3377bf934e4 CATEGORIES:Community Calendar SUMMARY:Red Cross Blood Drives DESCRIPTION;ENCODING=QUOTED-PRINTABLE:
Donat e blood with the Red Cross to help those fighting breast cancer
T hose who come to give Oct. 15-Nov. 11 will receive a $5 Amazon.com Gift Car d
Upcoming blood donation opportunities:< /p>
10/20/2020: 1 p.m. - 6 p.m., Grace Un ited Methodist Church, 164 W 7th, Neoga
10/22/2020: 2 p.m. - 7 p.m., St Michael Church - Sigel, Church St reet, Sigel
10/27/2020: 2 p.m. - 6 p.m., Effingham Event Center, 1501 West Fayette, Effingham
< p>10/28/2020: 2 p.m. - 6 p.m., Effingham Ev ent Center, 1501 West Fayette, Effingham10/29/2020: 9 a.m. - 2 p.m., Kemper CPA Group LLP, 810 West Jeff erson, Effingham
During Breast Cancer Awareness Month this October, the American Red Cross urges eligible donors to band together to provide hope and healing to patients fighting c ancer by giving blood or platelets. In appreciation, those who come to give Oct. 15-Nov. 11 will receive a $5 Amazon.com Gift Card* via email, courtesy of Suburban Propane.
Donors are asked to make app ointments by downloading the Red Cross Blood Donor App, visiting < a href="https://www.redcrossblood.org/give.html/find-drive?cid=%20oct16-31b da&med=referral&source=news&campdesc=local" style="background-color: initia l;">RedCrossBlood.org, calling 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) or enabling the Blood Donor Skill on any Alexa Echo device.
Donors of all blood types are urged to help ensure a stable supp ly for cancer patients and others this fall. To thank those who come to giv e in October, the Red Cross is also offering a $1,000 Amazon.com Gift Card to five lucky winners. *Terms and conditions apply. More information and de tails are available at RedCrossBlood.org/Unite. < /span>
Blood donations pla y a crucial role in cancer treatment
Diane Doehrman began donating blood during college. In the years f ollowing, she became a platelet donor and even helped start blood drives in her community.
More recently, Doehrman’s been on the receiving end of blood donations. Fourtee n years ago, she was diagnosed with breast cancer. Now she has an incurable cancer, malignant mixed Müllerian tumor.
“As a cancer patient, I had to have blood transfusion s several times when the chemotherapy treatments have destroyed my immune s ystem,” she said. “I am so very thankful for the donations from others. It can truly save a life.”
Cancer patients undergoing surgery and chemotherapy may require red bloo d cell or platelet transfusions. In fact, patients fighting cancer need mor e blood than those with any other disease, using nearly one-quarter of the nation’s blood supply.
Important COVID-19 information for donors
The Red Cross is testing blood, platelet and plasma donat ions for COVID-19 antibodies. The test may indicate if the donor’s immune s ystem 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 h ave COVID-19 antibodies and may now help current coronavirus patients in ne ed of convalescent plasma transfusions. Convalescent plasma is a type of bl ood donation collected from COVID-19 survivors that have antibodies that ma y help patients who are actively fighting the virus.
COVID-19 antibody test results will be ava ilable within one to two weeks in the Red Cross Blood Donor App or donor po rtal at RedCrossBlood.org. A positive antibody test result does not confirm infection or immunity. The Red Cross is not testing donors to diagnose ill ness, 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 fe el well or believe they may be ill with COVID-19 postpone donation.< /p>
Each Red Cross blood drive and donati
on center follows the highest standards of safety and infection control, an
d additional precautions – including temperature checks, social distancing and face covering
s for donors and staff – have been implemented to help protect the health o
f all those in attendance. Donors are asked to schedule an appointment prio
r 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 Prev
ention public guidance.
About blood donation
Si mply download the American Red Cross Blood Donor App, visit RedCrossBlo od.org, call 1-800-RED CROSS (1- 800-733-2767) or enable the Blood Donor Skill on any Alexa Echo device to m ake 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 identificati on are required at check-in. Individuals who are 17 years of age in most st ates (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 m eet certain height and weight requirements.
Blood and platelet donors can save time at their next donatio n by using RapidPass® to complete their pre-donation reading and health history questionnaire online, on the day of their donation, before arriving at the blood drive. To get started, follow the instructions at RedCrossBlood.org/RapidPass or use the Blood Don or App.
About the A merican Red Cross
The Americ
an Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides emotional support to victims of d
isasters; supplies about 40% of the nation’s blood; teaches skills that sav
e lives; provides international humanitarian aid; and supports military mem
bers and their families. The Red Cross is a not-for-profit organization tha
t depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to perfor
m its mission. For more information, please visit redcross.org, or visit us on Twitter at @RedCross
span>.