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It’s time to spring into action and give blood to the Red Cross.

According to American Red Cross officials, every 2 seconds someone in the U.S. needs blood.

To meet the continuing need, Manteo Baptist Church at 406 US 64 in Manteo is hosting a blood drive on Monday, April 29 from 1 to 6 p.m. in the church’s Family Life Center/Gymnasium.

Providing blood helps ensure that there is blood already on the shelves when a need arises. The blood already on hospital shelves is what helps in an emergency. From kids with cancer to accident survivors waiting for critical surgeries, many patients depend on lifesaving blood products so they can heal and thrive.

One step that can streamline your donation experience as well as to save up to 15 minutes on the day give is to visit RedCrossBlood.org/RapidPass to schedule an appointment and complete a few health history questions.

Red Cross also offers a free blood donor app that helps put the power to save lives in the palm of your hand. With it, you can find nearby Red Cross blood drives, schedule and manage appointments, complete your RapidPass^®, get notified when your blood is on its way to a patient, view results from your mini-physical, and a whole lot more.

Visitors to the Red Cross website may note that a $10 gift card is offered through April 28. However, in a call to Red Cross it was confirmed that there is a bonus $10 e-gift card of choice plus a chance to win a trip for two and VIP experience to the 2024 NASCAR Cup Series and Xfinity Races at Darlington Raceway Labor Day weekend. The trip includes round-trip airfare for two to South Carolina, up to a three-night hotel stay, entry to the Sport Clips racetrack hospitality tent, plus a $1,000 gift card for expenses.

There is also a free haircut coupon by email from Sport Clips Haircuts for one of almost 1,900 locations nationwide.

Because April is National Volunteer Month, it’s the perfect time to become a blood donor.

The Red Cross depends on the generosity of volunteers to help ensure that blood sufficient lifesaving products are available when patients need them.

Historically only three people out of 100 give blood. That’s one reason the Red Cross has launched a new Blood Donor Rewards program. Beginning in January, all donors automatically earn points when they come to give blood. Donors can redeem points any time of year to receive e-gift cards or save them to redeem and claim an exclusive Red Cross merchandise item in the next calendar year.

With that in mind, it makes sense to encourage friends and family to join you at the April 29 drive.

During the drive, eligible donors with types O, B negative or A negative blood are encouraged to make a Power Red donation.

The most common donation is whole blood, which is also the most flexible type of donation. It can be transfused in its original form, or used to help multiple people when separated into its specific components of red cells, plasma and platelets. During a Power Red donation, a donor gives a concentrated dose of red cells, the part of blood used every day for those needing transfusions as part of their care. An automated process separates the red blood cells from other blood components, and the plasma and platelets are then safely and comfortably returned to the donor.

Although it’s important to have a steady supply of all blood types, type O donors are always in demand. Type O positive is the most common blood type, and type O negative can be received by patients of all blood types.

To schedule an appointment, visit redcrossblood.org and enter the Manteo zip code 27954. If assistance is needed, call 1-800-RED-CROSS (1-800-733-2767), and when prompted, choose menu option #2 to connect to blood donation support staff.

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