May 28, 2020 – The American Red Cross has an
urgent need for blood donations to prevent another blood shortage as hospitals resume
surgical procedures and patient treatments that were temporarily paused
earlier this spring in response to the
COVID-19 pandemic.
In recent weeks, hospital demand for blood products has grown by 30% after
sharply declining in early April amid this rapidly changing and complex
public health crisis. At the same time, blood drives continue to be canceled
as many businesses and community organizations remain closed. Healthy
donors are needed to make and keep scheduled appointments to help meet
the current need.
In response to the urgent need,
College Place United Methodist Church, 3890 Altama Avenue, Brunswick, will host a blood drive on Monday, June
1, 1-6 p.m.
Social distancing protocols will be implemented. There is no data or evidence
that the coronavirus can be transmitted by blood transfusion, and there
have been no reported cases of transfusion transmission for any respiratory
virus including this coronavirus worldwide.
The Red Cross has implemented the following measures to ensure blood drives
are safe for donors and staff, including:
- Checking the temperature of staff and donors before entering to make sure
they are healthy
- Masks will be provided to those that do not have one
- Providing hand sanitizer for use before and throughout the donation process
- Spacing beds, where possible, to follow social distancing practices between
blood donors
- Increasing enhanced disinfecting of surfaces and equipment
At all blood drives, Red Cross employees already follow thorough safety
protocols to help prevent the spread of any type of infection, including:
- Wearing gloves and changing gloves with each donor
- Wearing masks
- Routinely wiping down donor-touched areas
- Using sterile collection sets for every donation
- Preparing the arm for donation with an aseptic scrub
Individuals who would like to donate are asked to make an appointment online
at redcrossblood.org to schedule a time that works for them. Appointments
allow the American Red Cross to exercise social distancing and provide
good donor services. Donors can also save up to 15 minutes at the blood
drive by completing a RapidPass®. With RapidPass®, donors complete
the pre-donation reading and health history questionnaire online, on the
day of donation, from a mobile device or computer. To complete a RapidPass®,
follow the instructions at
RedCrossBlood.org/RapidPass or use the Red Cross Blood Donor App.