Help Save Lives in New England by Donating Blood During the Spirit of Giving Campaign

WMUR and the Red Cross are starting their “Spirit of Giving” campaign blood drive for December.

This year will be a little different but then again, what hasn’t been a little different this year?  According to WMUR, December is typically a difficult month for blood donations in a normal year but with the pandemic, hospitals are working extra hard to prepare for a surge in patients.

If you are interested in helping, you can book an appointment by downloading the American Red Cross Blood Donor App.

According to the news station, donors are required to wear masks while donating. The Red Cross will be testing all blood donations for COVID-19 antibodies.  You can even receive your results within one or two weeks through the app.

It is important to note this isn’t a COVID-19 test, it's just an indicator if a blood donor has been exposed to the COVID-19.

When donating blood, it is important to remember on the day you donate, make sure you drink plenty of water and get a good night’s sleep the night before.  Another great tip is to eat some iron-rich foods before donating such as spinach, red meat, beans, and other iron-rich foods.

You have to be at least 17 years old to donate or 16 if you have your parent’s approval.  You should weigh at least 110 pounds, which is not a problem for me.  Also, the Red Cross would like you to be in generally good health.

I think it’s fantastic that WMUR.com is teaming up with the Red Cross for this blood drive. This is a great way to help during this trying time so check out the links below for more information.