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			 The Blood Donor App allows users to schedule blood donations, 
			track their total donations, earn rewards and invite friends to join 
			them on a lifesaving team. The new app is free and available for 
			download now in app stores. 
 “The Red Cross Blood Donor App is a new way to help meet the 
			constant need for blood,” said Shelly Heiden, community CEO for the 
			Red Cross Heart of America Blood Services Region. “The app makes it 
			easier, faster and more convenient for users to schedule and manage 
			their donation appointments, track the lifetime impact of their 
			donations, and recruit friends and family to roll up a sleeve with 
			them.”
 
 
			
			 
			As the nation’s single largest supplier of blood and blood products, 
			the Red Cross is uniquely positioned to bring this cutting edge 
			technology to blood and platelet donors. In addition to scheduling 
			and managing blood donation appointments, other features of the app 
			include:
 
				A blood drive or blood donation locator;
The ability to sync a blood donation appointment with the 
				user’s calendar;Personalized “selfies” donors can use as they share their 
				donation experience through social media;
 
Special badges donors can unlock as they interact with the 
				app, make donations and spread the word;
A chance for donors to come together to form teams, tracking 
				their cumulative impact and viewing standings on the Blood Donor 
				Teams Leaderboard; 
Exclusive offers and discounts from some of America’s best 
				brands, including Shari’s Berries, ProFlowers and 1A Auto, with 
				new rewards added regularly; and
Uplifting donor and blood recipient stories that show the 
				power of rolling up a sleeve to help save lives. The Red Cross has become a leader in putting vital safety 
				information in the hands of people who need it during 
				emergencies, with its award-winning disaster and preparedness 
				apps downloaded more than 5 million times over the past two 
				years. The new Blood Donor App takes it one step further by 
				helping people save lives through blood donations. 
			
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 The Blood Donor App, along with the others, can be found in 
				app stores by searching for American Red Cross, visiting 
				redcross.org/apps or redcrossblood.org/bloodapp, or by texting 
				BLOODAPP to 90999 for a direct link to download. Message and 
				data rates for texting may apply.
 Eligible blood donors do not need a smartphone to schedule an 
				appointment to give blood. Appointments can always be made by 
				calling 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) or by visiting 
				redcrossblood.org.
 
 How to donate blood
 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 (16 with parental consent in some states), weigh at 
				least 110 pounds and are in generally 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.
 
			[Text received; BEN COREY, AMERICAN 
			RED CROSS] About the 
			American Red CrossThe American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides emotional 
			support to victims of disasters; supplies about 40 percent of the 
			nation’s blood; teaches skills that save lives; provides 
			international humanitarian aid; and supports military members and 
			their families. The Red Cross is a not-for-profit organization that 
			depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to 
			perform its mission. For more information, please visit redcross.org 
			or visit us on Twitter at @RedCross.
   
			
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