CARBONDALE (WSIL) -- The American Red Cross held an emergency blood drive on SIU's Carbondale Campus on Thursday.
The impromptu blood drive at the the SIU Student Health Center was a relocation of a previously scheduled drive at an unnamed location. That drive had been canceled due to COVID-19 precautions.
The Red Cross says COVID has caused more than eleven thousand blood drives to be cancelled nationwide. That means the organization has missed out on nearly 330,000 units of blood.
While you should not attempt to donate if you have COVID-19 -- representatives say your blood could be even more helpful -- if you've already recovered from the virus.
"That's a part of the antibodies and why we are actually drawing those test results up is because if you have antibodies, you are elligible to go and donate plasma. That plasma will go to another COVID-19 patient, and potentially save their life as well," says American Red Cross Donor Recruitment Account Manager, Mindy Hendrix.
You can donate blood next week during our News 3 WSIL Fall Blood Drive.
- News 3 WSIL Fall Blood Drive
- Friday, Nov. 13 � 1:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.
- Saturday, Nov. 14 � 10:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
- Veterans Airport
- Charter Lounge
- 10400 Terminal Dr. #200 | Marion IL 62959
- Drury Inn and Suites
- Conference Room
- 145 North 44th St. | Mount Vernon, IL 62864
- Harris Pruett Library
- Main Room
- 107 East Church St. | Harrisburg, IL 62946
- Lakeland Baptist Church
- Fellowship Hall
- 719 South Giant City Rd. | Carbondale, IL 62901
You can schedule your appointment online, through the app, or by phone.
| 1-800-RED CROSS
| Sponsor code: WSIL
