BUFFALO, N.Y. — Western New Yorkers who can donate are being asked to step up.
Both the Red Cross and ConnectLife are making it easy to set up blood donation appointments. Thousands of drives had to be canceled because of the coronavirus pandemic.
You can go to either of these websites to book a time.
ConnectLife is taking blood by appointments only.
While the Red Cross is still accepting walk-ins, it strongly recommends making an appointment as well.
Earlier in the month, ConnectLife asked potential blood donors to take inventory of their own health.
"Blood donors must be healthy, feeling well and free of respiratory illness symptoms to be eligible to donate," it said in a statement. "It is the blood already on the shelves that saves lives."
As of Thursday, more people are allowed to donate blood now.
Before, anyone who had gotten a tattoo or piercing, been to certain areas with malaria, or men who had had sex with another man had to wait a year to donate.
Now that's been reduced to three months, and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration says it expects the new rules to remain in place after this is all over as well.
The same three-month deferral will now be in place for female donors who have had sex with a man who had sex with another man.
Both the Red Cross and Connect Life are making it easy to set up blood donation appointments.