Blood Donors Needed In Lower Gwynedd-Ambler-Whitpain Area: Red Cross Drives Coming Up Soon

LOWER GWYNEDD-AMBLER-WHITPAIN, PA — The coronavirus pandemic has put many things on hold for the past year, but the need for local blood donations hasn’t ebbed.

The pandemic, combined with severe weather in much of the country, has challenged the nation's blood supply. All blood types are needed, especially type O.

In most states, donors need to be at least 17 years old, weigh at least 110 pounds and be in generally good health; some states allow 16-year-olds to donate with parental consent. Donors 18 years old and younger need to meet certain height and weight requirements.

Red Cross blood drives follow coronavirus safety protocols including temperature screening, social distancing and face coverings for donors and staff.

Here are the Red Cross blood drives coming up in the Lower Gwynedd-Ambler-Whitpain area in the next couple weeks. You can search for additional Red Cross blood drives from a wider area here.

• 3/26/2021: 1 p.m. - 6 p.m., Montgomery Mall, 230 Montgomery Mall (North Wales)
• 3/29/2021: 1 p.m. - 6 p.m., Montgomery Mall, 230 Montgomery Mall (North Wales)
• 3/31/2021: 1 p.m. - 6 p.m., Montgomery Mall, 230 Montgomery Mall (North Wales)
• 3/31/2021: 2 p.m. - 7 p.m., Double Tree Plymouth Meeting, 640 Fountain Road (Plymouth Meeting)
• 4/1/2021: 1 p.m. - 6 p.m., North Wales Area Library, 233 S. Swartley Street (North Wales)
• 4/3/2021: 9 a.m. - 2 p.m., Upper Dublin Lutheran Church, 411 Susquehanna Road (Ambler)

Editor's note: This list was automatically generated using data compiled by the American Red Cross. The local blood drives included in the list are limited to those in the Red Cross data. Please report any errors or other feedback to content@patch.com. Know of another blood drive coming up in your area? You can add it to the Patch calendar using this form.

Donors are asked to schedule an appointment prior to arriving at the drive. Appointments can be made via the American Red Cross Blood Donor App, online or by calling 1-800-RED CROSS.

The Red Cross is testing all donations for COVID-19 antibodies. The antibodies may indicate a person's immune system developed antibodies in response to a coronavirus infection or a vaccine. Plasma from whole blood donations that tests positive for high levels of COVID-19 antibodies may be used in convalescent plasma treatments for coronavirus patients.

COVID-19 antibody test results will be available to donors within two weeks in the Red Cross Blood Donor App or donor portal. A positive antibody test result does not confirm infection or immunity, according to the Red Cross.