Giving the gift of life is more important than ever say officials from the American Red Cross as a blood shortage in the region continues.

Blood supplies are at record low levels at this time of year

Red Cross officials says with Thanksgiving and the holidays around the corner they're worried they'll see even fewer donors at a time when the nation’s blood supply is the lowest the Red Cross has seen this time of year in more than a decade.
Last month the Red Cross declared an emergency need for donors. Since then thousands of people have attending blood drives to roll up a sleeve and help those who are relying on lifesaving transfusions.

If you give blood now is the time to make an appointment

However more work needs to be done and more donors need to show up and give the gift of life. A press release says "at least 10,000 more donations are needed each week in the coming weeks to meet patient needs - ahead of the upcoming holiday season, which always presents seasonal challenges to blood collection."
Donors are urged to schedule an appointment now by using the Red Cross Blood Donor App, visiting RedCrossBlood.org or calling 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767).

If you give you'll be safe

"Each Red Cross blood drive and donation center follows the highest standards of safety and infection control, and additional precautions - including face masks for donors and staff, regardless of vaccination status - 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.

How about a trip to Hawaii for your effort?

In honor of the new series, I Know What You Did Last Summer, those who come to give Nov. 1-12, 2021, will automatically be entered to win a trip for two to Hawaii, courtesy of Amazon Prime Video.* The trip will transport you to where the series was filmed and includes round-trip airfare for two, hotel accommodations for nine nights, meals, $1,000 gift card for expenses and on-trip transportation with tour stops from Honolulu to Maui. Plus, those who come to donate Nov. 1-23 will receive a $10 Amazon.com Gift Card* by email, thanks to Amazon.**"

Granger

11/10/2021: 9 a.m. - 2 p.m., Granger High School, 315 Mentzer Avenue

 

Naches

11/12/2021: 10 a.m. - 3 p.m., Church of the Nazarene, 103 Naches Avenue

 

Yakima

11/1/2021: 10 a.m. - 3 p.m., Wellness Committee Yakima, 105 South 3rd Street

11/2/2021: 12:30 p.m. - 5:30 p.m., Yakima Blood Donation Center, 302 S 2nd Street

11/3/2021: 12 p.m. - 6 p.m., Yakima Blood Donation Center, 302 S 2nd Street

11/5/2021: 9 a.m. - 1:30 p.m., Yakima Blood Donation Center, 302 S 2nd Street

11/10/2021: 12 p.m. - 6 p.m., Yakima Blood Donation Center, 302 S 2nd Street

11/12/2021: 9 a.m. - 1:30 p.m., Yakima Blood Donation Center, 302 S 2nd Street

11/15/2021: 12:30 p.m. - 5:30 p.m., Cheese Sandwich Day, 302 S 2nd Street

11/15/2021: 12:30 p.m. - 5:30 p.m., Christ Lutheran Church, 5606 W Lincoln Avenue

11/17/2021: 12 p.m. - 6 p.m., Yakima Blood Donation Center, 302 S 2nd Street

11/19/2021: 9 a.m. - 1:30 p.m., Yakima Blood Donation Center, 302 S 2nd Street

11/23/2021: 1 p.m. - 6 p.m., West Valley Nazarene Church, 7109 West Nob Hill Blvd

11/24/2021: 11 a.m. - 4 p.m., Knights of Columbus #6097, 5502 W. Chestnut

11/24/2021: 12 p.m. - 6 p.m., Yakima Blood Donation Center, 302 S 2nd Street

11/26/2021: 9 a.m. - 1:30 p.m., Yakima Blood Donation Center, 302 S 2nd Street

Here are some tips for self-care during the pandemic:

 

KEEP READING: See 25 natural ways to boost your immune system

Answers to 25 common COVID-19 vaccine questions

Vaccinations for COVID-19 began being administered in the U.S. on Dec. 14, 2020. The quick rollout came a little more than a year after the virus was first identified in November 2019. The impressive speed with which vaccines were developed has also left a lot of people with a lot of questions. The questions range from the practical—how will I get vaccinated?—to the scientific—how do these vaccines even work?

Keep reading to discover answers to 25 common COVID-19 vaccine questions.

More From News Talk KIT