Download the Blood App for Blood Donor Month

Life (or afterlife) as a vampire just got easier thanks to the new American Red Cross Blood Donor App. The latest of many American Red Cross apps provides users with information to schedule blood donations, track their total donations, get rewards, and invite friends to join them on a lifesaving team.

“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,” said Shaun Gilmore, president of Red Cross Biomedical Services. “Every two seconds, someone in the U.S. needs blood, and the Blood Donor App is a new way to help meet that constant need.”

Through the Blood Donor App, users can 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. Other features of the app include:

• A blood drive or blood donation center 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, track their cumulative impact and view standings on the Blood Donor Teams Leaderboard; and
• Uplifting donor and blood recipient stories that show the power of rolling up a sleeve to help save lives.

Blood Donor App users will also get unique “thank yous” from the Red Cross and its partners – exclusive offers and discounts from some of America’s best brands.

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.

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 smart phone 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.

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Exploring Team Red Cross: The App

by Tonya Solis-Mosby, volunteer contributor

I did it! I became a member (again) of TeamRed Cross. On its first day in the social media world, I downloaded the new American Red Cross Volunteer App. 

I think I fell in love at start up, when the new Red Cross button logo appeared and then faded away only to bring forth a bright, crisp video showing the loving and caring faces of some American Red Cross volunteers.

From there, I was encouraged to sign up to “help where needed.” I didn’t choose the option to sign in using Facebook, so I took the steps to create a new account.  I was happy when through the process I was able to make it known that I’m already a Red Cross Volunteer, because when I started the process I worried I might duplicate or make harder some process.  But with the confidence that in some database somewhere, they will find me, I moved on through the process.

I entered my present location as prompted and I opted to receive push notifications. A screen promptly informed me there were current missions where I could help. On the next screen or so, details about the missions appeared on separate screens. I could donate blood; donate money or become a digital campaigner.

The digital campaigner mission sparked my interest, so I selected that option.

Once I completed a few questions about my social media abilities, I was on my way!  They promised to get back with me, and I promise I’m waiting.

Before finishing the sign up process, I received my reward. I was granted three achievement badges – just for signing up.

View the following slideshow for a tour of the application:

Like the other wonderful Red Cross apps, such as the Tornado App and the Hurricane App, the Team Red Cross App gives you more than expected. In addition to allowing you to sign up to volunteer, this app gives users real time alerts and Red Cross shelter locations. Also, there is various information regarding disaster preparation, what to do in case of and immediately after a disaster, and information regarding the services offered by the Red Cross. This information is presented in a variety of ways, including through quizzes and videos.

Overall, this is one app you would not want to miss. It's available for free for both iOS and Android devices. All of the Red Cross apps, including Team Red Cross, can be found in iTunes and Google Play by searching for American Red Cross or by going to redcross.org/mobileapps.

With this app, you can be on the front lines when disaster strikes. Take a tour of the app & then join the Team!

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New Red Cross Tornado App Provides Life-Saving Alerts, Safety Information

by Amy Yen, Digital Communications Manager, American Red Cross

The new Red Cross Tornado app
can save lives by sounding a siren
during tornado warnings

Here in the heart of Tornado Alley, we know that a tornado can hit at any time of the day, wherever you are and with little or no warning. That’s why today we are so excited to be introducing our new Tornado App for iOS and Android devices, which will, among other features, sound a siren when a NOAA tornado warning is in effect in your area. 

The siren will go off even if you are not running the app, so the audible alert can save lives because users might not otherwise know of the danger in their area. For example, many tornadoes happen at night, when people are sleeping. The tornadoes that hit the Metroplex last April were in the middle of the day, when many people were at work and not monitoring the news or weather.

The app is designed to give users access to local and real-time information about what to do before, during and after a tornado hits. It’s available in English and Spanish, and is free for iPhone, iPad and Android devices.

Other features include:

• An “all clear!” alert lets users know when a tornado warning has expired or has been cancelled
• A “I’m safe” button to let loved ones and friends know when you’re out of harm’s way
• Simple steps and checklists people can use to create an emergency plan and share it with household members
• Preloaded preparedness content that gives instant access to critical action steps even without mobile connectivity
• Toolkit with a flashlight, a strobe light and an audible alarm
• Locations of open Red Cross shelters
• Badges users can earn through interactive quizzes and share on social networks.

You can download the Tornado App now by searching for Red Cross in the Apple App Store and the Google Play Store for Android by searching for American Red Cross or by going to redcross.org/mobileapps. Don’t forget to also check out our other apps: First Aid, Hurricane, Earthquake and Wild Fire. 

Let us know what you think of the app & don't forget to tell your friends in tornado-prone areas to download it!

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Ways to Help as Sandy Prepares for Landfall

Written by Anita Foster, Chief Communications Officer, American Red Cross-North Texas Region 

Over the weekend, the American Red Cross in the Metroplex sent eight relief workers to New Jersey, New York and other areas in advance of Hurricane Sandy. With air travel all but halted, additional deployments will be delayed until after landfall. Even though North Texans are miles from the wind and rain, there are still three important action steps that local residents can take to help those impacted:

1. Give Blood. Residents in the impact zone will not be able to donate blood for the next few weeks as they'll be focused on disaster recovery. North Texans can do our part to help by ensuring we keep the nationwide blood supply stocked. To make a blood donor appointment, call 1-800-RED CROSS or visit www.redcross.org.

2. Make a Financial Gift. Mobilizing for a relief operation of this size is costly, but necessary. The Red Cross has already spent millions of dollars getting ready, and we'll spend millions more after landfall. North Texans can text REDCROSS to 90999 to donate $10, click on www.redcross.org or call 1-800-RED CROSS to make a much-needed financial donation.

3. Download the Hurricane App: This free application from the Red Cross will allow someone to receive alerts and track friends and family in the impact zone. The App is available for the iPhone and Android.

Once Hurricane Sandy makes landfall, the American Red Cross will have a better idea of how many people are directly impacted and what additional resources will be needed for relief efforts.

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