The Red Cross distributes nearly 40 per cent of the nation’s blood supply. But when the coronavirus hit, more than 200 blood drives were cancelled in the local region as of late March. That’s a loss of 7,000 units of blood.
Red Cross spokesperson Carrie Carlson-Guest says this emergency is different because it hit everywhere. “We have had so many cancellations because things are happening across the country,” Carlson-Guest said. “Businesses are closed where we normally have drives, high schools and colleges where we normally have drives, all of these are closed. But the need for blood continues.”
If that trend continued, the Red Cross says the blood shortage could impact patients who need surgery, victims of car accidents and other emergencies.
“We are in a critical situation,” said Carlson-Guest. “We were in a severe shortage, now good news it is coming back a little. But we are still in a critical need for blood, not just today but in the days and weeks to come.”
The Red Cross says more safety measures have been added to assure donating is safe even in a world where people are seeking a bit more distance.
“The actual process of what they’ll see is additional cleaning, beds spaced out, additional personal protocol by our staff so it will be different.”
The Red Cross says there’s no evidence coronavirus can be transmitted through blood transfusion. Donors and staff will have their temperatures checked to make sure everyone is healthy.
The Red Cross has a new blood donor app to help you find local blood drives and schedule an appointment. Text “BLOODAPP” to 90999 or search “Red Cross Blood” in your app store.
There are several drives in Arden Hills over the next week. There’s also one at the Northtown library on April 13 and Horizons Church in Ham Lake on the 14.
