According to the American Red Cross, each individual blood donation can save up to three lives.
With the spread of COVID-19 and the recommendations set in place by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) regarding social distancing, thousands of blood drives have been canceled.
As of March 22, there have 200,000 less blood donations as a result of 6,000 blood drives being canceled, according to the American Red Cross.
The cancellation of many blood drives has caused American Red Cross to run low on blood that is lifesaving to many individuals. Although there have been many cancelations, they are still holding blood drives and encouraging organizations to keep blood drives open, according to their website.
“The Red Cross also urges organizations to maintain scheduled blood drives. Donating is a safe process and people should not hesitate to give or receive blood or platelets. We have implemented additional precautions to ensure safety of our donors and staff,” The American Red Cross website said.
The website outlines the safety protocols that are in place during this time. Currently, there is no data or evidence to suggest that COVID-19 can be transmitted by blood transfusion.
Whenever people donate blood, they must be healthy and must follow eligibility requirements including age, weight and other aspects that reflect health status.
The American Red Cross is taking extra steps to ensure sanitization of equipment and the safety of those who donate. They are also practicing social distancing with beds that are 6 feet apart where possible.
“One of the most important things you can do to ensure we don’t have another health care crisis on top of coronavirus is make an appointment to donate,” The American Red Cross website said.
To make an appointment visit the American Red Cross website or call 1-800-733-2767 to find donation centers by area.
Information on blood drives, donation eligibility, precautions during the pandemic and more can be found on their website.
Nicole Hindberg can be reached at [email protected] or on Twitter @HindbergNicole.