Don’t forget to donate blood at the Stanley-Boyd Community Red Cross Blood Drive on Friday, August 7, 12:00 noon to 6:00 pm at the Stanley-Boyd High School. The need blood is constant. Donors may make an appointment by calling Donella Christianson at 715-644-3638 or on line at redcrossblood.org, and enter zip code 54768.

Donors must be at least 110 pounds, and be in good general health. Sixteen-year-olds may donate blood but need to present a signed Red Cross Consent form at the time of registration. Consent forms are available from Donella.

An antibody test screens for antibodies in your blood, which are formed when fighting an infection, like COVID-19. An antibody test assesses whether your immune system has responded to the infection, not if the virus is currently present. The COVID19 antibody test is authorized by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and may indicate if the donor’s immune system has produced antibodies to the coronavirus, regardless of whether they developed symptoms.

Please note the Red Cross is not testing donors to diagnose illness, including COVID-19. If you feel unwell for any reason, please postpone your donation. Individuals who believe they may be ill with COVID-19 should not present to donate until they are symptom free for 14 days and feeling well and healthy.

Donate blood on August 7, and when you are finished, relax and enjoy some goodies at the canteen or take along with you when you leave. The need is constant and the gratification is instant.