Donate blood, get Covid antibody test

January is National Blood Donor Month, a time to resolve to be a regular blood donor and help save lives. This year a donation also comes with an added bonus: the Red Cross is testing blood donations for Covid-19 antibodies. As part of the effort, plasma from standard blood donations that test positive for Covid-19 antibodies may now be used to help current coronavirus patients in need of convalescent plasma transfusions.

Upcoming local blood drives include the following:

• St. Francis Catholic Church, 10:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. today, Jan. 8, at 31 County Road 1.

• Moose Lake Community Schools, 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Jan. 15, at 4812 County Road 10.

• Journey Christian Church, Jan. 21 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at 1400 Washington Avenue, Cloquet. For information or to make an appointment to donate go to cloquetchurch.com and click on the Red Cross link. Call the church office at 218-879-6765.

Safety protocols on the day of the blood drive will include:

• Safe distancing

• Many extra cleaning precautions

• Temperature checks prior to entering the donation area

• Mask use for donors, volunteers, and employees; masks provided for donors if they do not bring their own

• Glove use at all times

• Hand sanitizer readily available for use

The Red Cross encourages healthy, eligible individuals to make an appointment to give blood in order to help keep a stable blood supply for trauma patients and those battling illness or injury.