With the COVID-19 pandemic causing many blood drives to be canceled, the need for people to donate blood is great.
If you're able to do so, the American Red Cross has a blood drive scheduled for next week. Here's the information:
Additionally, the American Red Cross is taking extra precautions to keep both donors and staff safe during the pandemic. Those precautions include the following.
Wellness and Protection
• Checking temperature of all staff, volunteers, and donors before entering blood drive. If any staff, volunteer or donor has a temperature greater than 99.5°F they will not be able to donate/work at the drive
• Staff and volunteers will wear gloves throughout entire drive, changing gloves often.
• All staff, volunteers and donors will be required to wear face masks or coverings at the blood drive in alignment with CDC public guidelines.
Increased Educational Materials
• Donor educational materials on COVID-19
• Stop sign at entrances to avert ineligible donors
Enhanced Disinfecting
• Hand sanitizer will be available at check-in, health history and refreshment areas.
• Blood donors will be asked to use hand sanitizer before and during the donation process.
• Donor beds will be sanitized between every donor.
• Routinely disinfecting common surfaces at drive.
Social Distancing
• Set up to allow six feet distance between donor areas.
• Only blood donors will be permitted at blood drives.
• After check-in, donors will be asked to wait in a designated area (or even car, donors may be asked for a phone number to get notified it’s their turn.