Red Cross Month commemorated during March
<p class="p1">Red Cross Month is commemorated during March.</p><p class="p1">The American Red Cross encourages eligible donors to join in its lifesaving mission by giving blood during March.</p><p class="p1">A number of blood drives are scheduled in the area during March.</p><p class="p1">Upcoming blood donation opportunities include:</p><p class="p1">Southeast Health, 1701 Lacey St., Cape Girardeau, March 1, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.</p><p class="p1">Saint Francis Medical Center, 211 St. Francis Dr., Cape Girardeau, March 1, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.</p><p class="p1">Memorial Hospital of Carbondale, 405 W. Jackson, Carbondale, March 3, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.</p><p class="p1">Illinois Department of Transportation, 2801 W. Murphysboro Rd., Carbondale, March 9, 7 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.</p><p class="p1">Dongola Unit School District No. 66. 1000 High St., Dongola, March 11, 10:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.</p><p class="p1">Anna Community School District No. 37, 301 S. Green St., Anna, March 15, noon to 5 p.m.</p><p class="p1">Since 1943, every U.S. president has designated March as Red Cross Month.</p><p class="p1">The purpose of the observance is to recognize how the Red Cross helps people down the street, across the country and around the world. </p><p class="p1">The American Red Cross says that it depends on blood donor heroes across the nation to collect enough blood to meet the needs of patients at approximately 2,600 hospitals nationwide. </p><p class="p1">Donors of all blood types are needed to help accident and burn victims, patients undergoing organ transplants, those receiving cancer treatments and others who rely on blood products.</p><p class="p1">Area residents can make an appointment to become a hero to patients in need by downloading the free Red Cross Blood Donor App, visiting redcrossblood.org or calling 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767). </p><p class="p1">All blood types are needed to ensure a reliable supply for patients. </p><p class="p1">A blood donor card or driver’s license or two other forms of identification are required at check-in. </p><p class="p1">Individuals who are 17 years of age (16 with parental consent in some states), weigh at least 110 pounds and are in generally good health may be eligible to donate blood. </p><p class="p1">High school students and other donors 18 years of age and younger also have to meet certain height and weight requirements.</p><p class="p1">The American Red Cross notes that blood donors can now 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, prior to arriving at the blood drive. To learn more, visit redcrossblood.org/RapidPass and follow the instructions on the site.</p><p class="p2"> </p><p class="p2"> </p>