American Red Cross Bloodmobile will be in Milbank

Published by admin on Tue, 01/26/2021 - 6:07pm

Appointments Necessary for

Upcoming Bloodmobile Visit

The American Red Cross Bloodmobile will be in Milbank Wednesday, February 17, at Unity Square from noon to 6 p.m. Only persons with appointments will be allowed to donate blood. No walk-ins will be allowed.

To make an appointment online, go to redcrossblood.org, enter 57252 for the location and choose February 17, 2021. Click on the box for the desired time. Donors must then sign in with a previously created account or create one with a username and password.

Rapid Pass shortens donation times, and must be completed the day of the drive. It may be done on the donor’s app or completed on a home computer with the results printed out and brought to the blood drive.

The Red Cross is following FDA blood donation eligibility guidelines for those who have received a COVID-19 vaccination. There is no deferral time for the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines. Previous health rules remain in effect.

Individuals who have recovered from the COVID-19 illness are encouraged to donate. Plasma from the blood of these individuals has proven to be lifesaving for some critically ill individuals. All blood will be tested for the presence of COVID-19 antibodies. Patrons may find the results of the testing on their blood donor app two weeks post donation.

Because of the pandemic, the American Red Cross now provides all snacks, including water and juices. They have allowed the sponsors to make coffee and patrons can pick up individually wrapped cheese sticks from Valley Queen.

Living Word Lutheran Church is supporting the blood drives this year. Anyone with questions can call Margaret Skoog, the bloodmobile coordinator, at 605-880-0435.