Updated 4/30/20

With no known end date to the coronavirus fight, the American Red Cross is encouraging healthy individuals to make appointments to donate blood or placelets to ensure blood remains readily available for patients who still rely on transfusions.

Donated blood has a limited shelf  life of 42 days for red cells and just five days for placelets, so the supply must constantly be replenished.

Healthy individuals who are feeling well are asked to make an appointment to donate this May by downloading the free Red Cross Blood Donor App by visiting RedCrossBlood.org  or calling 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767).  

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. 

The upcoming blood donation opportunity  near Giles County will  be May 13th at WalMart on Brookmeade Drive in Columbia from 1 p.m. until 5 p.m.