COVID-19 has canceled nearly 2,700 Red Cross blood drives across the United States, resulting in 86,000 fewer donations and a shortage in blood.

According to the FDA, there is no evidence that coronavirus can be transmitted through blood transfusions. Donors are required to wear masks, which will be supplied if needed, and are verbally screened for symptoms.

Cancer patients, women who have recently given birth, sickle cell patients, trauma victims, burn victims and chronically ill patients are among the list of people who are in need of blood. Some of these people may need blood once, while others may need it every month.

To donate, you must:

• Be 16 years old with parental consent and proof of age,
• Weigh at least 110 pounds,
• Be in good health and feeling well and
• Have not donated in the last 56 days

Those with blood that does not clot, HIV and AIDS patients and certain cancer patients may not be eligible to donate. All eligibility requirements can be found through www.redcross.org. 

A visit may take up to an hour, but the donation process only takes approximately 8-10 minutes.

Those interested in donating can schedule an appointment with the American Red Cross by visiting RedCrossBlood.org, using the Red Cross Blood Donor App, calling 1-800-RED-CROSS.