The Red Cross is looking for donors to help with a shortage in blood inventory—and they’re giving out giftcards to get people to roll up their sleeves.
Currently, the humanitarian organization reports it has less than a three-day supply of most blood types. To encourage eligible participants to donate, the Red Cross is providing anyone who donates from now through Aug. 29 with a $5 Amazon gift card.
A media release from the Red Cross says blood is needed for different procedures in the U.S. every two seconds, including for accident victims, organ transplant patients and people receiving treatment for cancer. The organization says only 3% of people in the U.S. donate.
Donors can also speed up the paperwork process by using the Red Cross’ RapidPass to complete the pre-donation reading and health history questionnaire, either on their mobile device or computer. Additionally, donors must be at least 16 years old and weigh 110 pounds to be eligible for donation.
The Red Cross is hosting blood drives in Summit and Wasatch Counties: Aug. 7 from noon to 5 p.m. in Park City at the Park City Farmers Market, and Aug. 15 from 2 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the DoubleTree Park City; Aug. 10 from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. in Marion at the Kamas Utah Stake; and Aug. 12 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. in Heber City at the Heber Valley Medical Center. Those interested in donating can also schedule an appointment for a different date and location.
