The American Red Cross strongly urges healthy, eligible individuals who are feeling well to give blood or platelets to help maintain a sufficient blood supply and prevent shortages as concerns about the outbreak of coronavirus COVID-19 rise in the United States.
Cold and flu season has already impacted the nation’s ability to maintain its blood supply. As the number of coronavirus cases grows in the U.S., the number of people eligible to give blood for patients in need could decrease further.
“We’re asking the American people to help keep the blood supply stable during this challenging time. As communities across the country prepare for this public health emergency, it’s critical that plans include a readily available blood supply for hospital patients,” said Chris Hrouda, president, Red Cross Blood Services. “As fears of coronavirus rise, low donor participation could harm blood availability at hospitals, and the last thing a patient should worry about is whether lifesaving blood will be on the shelf when they need it most.” Blood donors with type O blood and platelet donors are especially needed right now.
Donating blood is a safe process and people should not hesitate to give or receive blood. There is no data or evidence that this coronavirus can be transmissible by blood transfusion, and there have been no reported cases worldwide of transmissions for any respiratory virus, including this coronavirus, from a transfusion.
The Red Cross only collects blood from individuals who are healthy and feeling well at the time of donation – and who meet other eligibility requirements, available at RedCrossBlood.org. At each blood drive and donation center, Red Cross employees follow thorough safety protocols including wearing gloves, routinely wiping down donor-touched areas, using sterile collection sets for every donation, and preparing the arm for donation with an aseptic scrub. These mitigation measures will help ensure blood recipient safety, as well as staff and donor safety in reducing contact with those who may potentially have this respiratory infection.
Upcoming blood donation opportunities:
•March 20, 1:30 to 6:30 p.m., Chili Fire Department, 3231 Chili Avenue, Rochester
•March 20, 2 to 7 p.m., Clarkson Lodge, 3645 Lake Road, Brockport
•March 25, 1 to 6 p.m., American Legion Post #330, 691 Trimmer Road, Spencerport
•March 26, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., SUNY Brockport Seymour College Union, 350 New Campus Drive, Brockport
•March 27, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Westside Family YMCA, 920 Elmgrove Road, Rochester.
Make an appointment to donate blood by using the Red Cross Blood Donor App, visiting RedCrossBlood.org, calling 1-800-RED-CROSS (1-800-733-2767), or enabling the Blood Donor Skill on any Alexa Echo device.
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