Donate In Memory Of Wendi Winters And Support Children Fighting Cancer

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The world lost Wendi Winters on June 28, 2018. On that day, five journalists who worked at the Capital Gazette newspaper in Annapolis were killed in a shooting rampage. Winters, a self-proclaimed “proud Navy mom,” church youth adviser, Girl Scout leader and American Red Cross volunteer, was among those taken too soon.

Winters invested her time helping those in need. She educated the public on the critical need for blood and platelet transfusions for cancer care, sickle cell treatment and other patient care. She also regularly coordinated Red Cross blood drives. On the weekend of February 13, her legacy of service continues. In Winters’ memory, give blood and help save lives that Saturday from 8:00am to 4:00pm at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Annapolis.

The coronavirus pandemic is unprecedented, but the need for blood remains. When you give blood, you are helping heroes on the frontlines to continue helping others in need of lifesaving blood to battle diseases, like cancer.

The American Red Cross needs people of all races and ethnicities to give blood to help ensure a blood supply as diverse as the patients who depend on it.

For a small percentage of the population, finding someone else with the same blood type can be difficult. While most people have types A, B, O or AB blood, some blood types are unique to certain racial and ethnic groups, so a diverse blood supply is important to meeting the medical needs of a diverse patient population. Patients who require frequent blood transfusions as part of their treatment, like those with sickle cell disease or other lifelong blood disorders, often need close blood-type matches to prevent complications from their transfusion therapy. All blood types are needed to ensure that the right blood product is available at the right time for all patients.

Make an appointment to donate by downloading the free Red Cross Blood Donor App, visiting www.redcrossblood.org, calling 1-800-RED CROSS or enabling the “blood donor skill” on any Alexa Echo device. Blood drives are also essential in helping ensure blood is available for patients this winter. To learn more and sign up to host a blood drive this fall or winter, visit www.redcrossblood.org/hostadrive.

Important COVID-19 information for donors

The Red Cross is testing blood, platelet and plasma donations for COVID-19 antibodies. The test may indicate if the donor’s immune system has produced antibodies to this coronavirus, regardless of whether they developed symptoms. Donors can expect to receive the results of their antibody test within seven to 10 days through the Red Cross Blood Donor App or the donor portal at www.redcrossblood.org.

The Red Cross is not testing donors to diagnose illness, 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 feel well or believe they may be ill with COVID-19 postpone 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.

How to donate blood

Simply download the American Red Cross blood donor app, visit www.redcrossblood.org, call 1-800-RED CROSS or enable the blood donor skill on any Alexa Echo device to make an appointment or for more information. 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.

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