Blood drives scheduled

­TOLEDO — The American Red Cross is urging eligible donors to give the gift of a lifesaving blood or platelet donation this holiday season.

By rolling up a sleeve, donors can help ensure patients continue to receive treatment throughout the holiday season.

Busy holiday schedules and travel plans make it more challenging for regular donors to give, and many businesses and organizations postpone hosting blood drives during the holiday season for the same reasons. This can lead to a decline in blood donations, but the need is constant.

“While many of us gather with friends and family this time of year, patients may spend the holidays in a hospital room,” said Christy Peters, external communications manager of the Red Cross Northern Ohio Blood Services Region. “The need for blood doesn’t take a break for the holidays. Please make an appointment to give the most meaningful gift of all — the gift of life through a blood or platelet donation.”

To encourage donations around Thanksgiving, those who come to give blood or platelets from Thanksgiving Day to Monday will be emailed a set of recipes from celebrity chef partners Mario Batali, Rick Bayless, Richard Blais, David Burke, Mike Isabella and Ellie Krieger.

Upcoming blood drives in Wyandot County will be from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. today at the Wyandot East Fire District, 100 Grant St., Nevada; and from 12-6 p.m. Dec. 7 at the Upper Sandusky Elks Lodge, 320 E. Wyandot Ave.

To donate blood, download the American Red Cross Blood Donor App, visit www.redcrossblood.org or call 800-733-2767 to make an appointment or for more information.

A blood donor card or driver’s license or two other forms of identification are required at check-in.

Individuals who are 17 years of age in most states (16 with parental consent where allowed by state law), weigh at least 110 pounds and generally are in good health may be eligible to donate blood. High school students and other donors 18 years of age and younger also have to meet certain height and weight requirements.

Blood donors can save time at their next donation by using RapidPass to complete their pre-donation reading and health history questionnaire online, on the day of their donation, prior to arriving at the blood drive. To get started and learn more, visit www.redcrossblood.org/RapidPass and follow the instructions on the site.