Red Cross blood donors could win Superbowl LVI tickets

The American Red Cross and the National Football League are offering an incentive for people to roll up their sleeves and give blood to help tackle the national convalescent plasma shortage.

Saying more donations are needed to help hospital patients, the Red Cross and NFL are offering blood or platelet donors an opportunity to be 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 a viewing experience safely at home, with a 65-inch television and a $500 gift card to put toward food and fun.

Potential donors 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 giving whole blood. Plasma from whole blood donations that test positive for COVID-19 antibodies may be used to help COVID-19 patients.

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 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):

American Red Cross Blood Donation Centers

Columbiana County

Columbiana

• 1/21/2021: 2 p.m. - 7 p.m., Das Dutch Village Inn, 150 Ohio 14

Leetonia

• 1/28/2021: 8 a.m. - 1 p.m., Leetonia High School, 450 Walnut St

New Waterford

• 1/27/2021: 1 p.m. - 6 p.m., Abundant Life Fellowship, 46469 State Route 46

Salem

• 1/13/2021: 9 a.m. - 2 p.m., Salem Regional Medical Center, 1995 E. State Street

Mahoning County

Austintown

• 1/12/2021: 2 p.m. - 6:30 p.m., Redeemer Lutheran Church, 2305 S. Canfield-Niles Rd
• 1/19/2021: 11 a.m. - 5 p.m., Austintown Library, 600 S. Raccoon Rd
• 1/27/2021: 1 p.m. - 6 p.m., Immaculate Heart of Mary, 4500 Norquest Blvd.

Beloit

• 1/16/2021: 12 p.m. - 5 p.m., Connecting Point Chapel, 12275 Beloit Snodes Road

Boardman

• 1/9/2021: 10 a.m. - 3 p.m., Boardman Public Library, 7680 Glenwood Avenue
• 1/11/2021: 1:30 p.m. - 7 p.m., Westminster Presbyterian Church, 119 Stadium Drive
• 1/23/2021: 11 a.m. - 4 p.m., Boardman United Method Church, 6809 Market Street
• 1/25/2021: 11 a.m. - 5 p.m., Boardman Public Library, 7680 Glenwood Avenue
• 1/28/2021: 2 p.m. - 7 p.m., Boardman Park, 375 Boardman-Poland Rd

Canfield

• 1/19/2021: 2 p.m. - 7 p.m., Canfield United Methodist Church, 27 S. Broad Street

Damascus

• 1/12/2021: 1:30 p.m. - 6:30 p.m., Damascus United Methodist Church, 300 Valley Rd

New Middletown

• 1/22/2021: 1 p.m. - 6 p.m., Zion Lutheran Church, 10857 Main St

Poland

• 1/8/2021: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m., Poland Library, 311 S. Main Street
• 1/19/2021: 11 a.m. - 5 p.m., Poland Library, 311 S. Main Street
• 1/19/2021: 1:30 p.m. - 6:30 p.m., Heritage Presbyterian Church, 1951 Mathews Road

Youngstown

• 1/13/2021: 11 a.m. - 5 p.m., Southern Park Mall, 7401 Market Street
• 1/14/2021: 11 a.m. - 5 p.m., Stambaugh Auditorium, 1000 Fifth Ave
• 1/15/2021: 2 p.m. - 7 p.m., Austintown Baptist Church, 1180, South Raccoon Road
• 1/19/2021: 12 p.m. - 5:30 p.m., East Branch Library, 430 Early Rd.
• 1/21/2021: 12 p.m. - 6 p.m., St. Patrick Church Youngstown, 1420 Oak Hill
• 1/30/2021: 9 a.m. - 3 p.m., Jewish Comm Center, 505 Gypsy Lane

Trumbull County

Brookfield

• 1/5/2021: 11:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m., Tiffany's Banquet Center, 601 Bedford Road SE

Cortland

• 1/6/2021: 12 p.m. - 5 p.m., Cortland United Methodist Church, 155 N. High Street

Girard

• 1/27/2021: 11 a.m. - 5 p.m., Avon Oaks Ballroom, 1401 N State Street

Hubbard

• 1/20/2021: 12 p.m. - 6 p.m., St Patricks Catholic Church, 367 N. Main St

Kinsman

• 1/18/2021: 1:30 p.m. - 7 p.m., Rock of Grace Church Kinsman, 6745 Ohio 5

Newton Falls

• 1/13/2021: 1 p.m. - 6 p.m., St Marys Social Hall, 120 Maple Drive
• 1/26/2021: 12:30 p.m. - 5:30 p.m., Braceville United Methodist Church, 589 Park Rd. SW

Niles

• 1/26/2021: 11 a.m. - 5 p.m., Niles Wellness Center, 213 Sharkey Drive

Warren

• 1/5/2021: 12 p.m. - 6 p.m., Champion Presbyterian Church, 4997 Mahoning Ave. NW
• 1/12/2021: 9 a.m. - 2 p.m., St James Church Hall, 2534 Milton St SW
• 1/16/2021: 9 a.m. - 2 p.m., St Pauls Lutheran Church, 2860 East Market St.
• 1/18/2021: 1:30 p.m. - 6:30 p.m., Howland Community Church, 198 Niles-Cortland Rd.
• 1/21/2021: 11:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m., St Demetrios Community Center, 3223 Atlantic St.
• 1/26/2021: 9 a.m. - 3 p.m., Scope Warren Center, 375 N Park Avenue

About blood donation

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 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.

Blood and platelet donors can save time at their next donation 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 Donor App.

 Additional information and details are available at:

https://www.redcrossblood.org/local-homepage/events/super_bowl.html