While the U.S. is fighting the COVID-19 outbreak, the American Red Cross is working to prevent another public health emergency – a shortage in blood.
“Locally and in all areas, the COVID-19 outbreak has had a drastic effect on blood donations,” said Todd James, executive director of the American Red Cross of North Central Ohio.
He said the Red Cross has recently needed to cancel more than 6,000 blood drives, accounting for more than 200,000 donations.
However, James said blood donations are now as important as ever.
“Every day people are counting on life-saving blood,” he said.
James said the U.S. Surgeon General, the Center for Disease Control (CDC), the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Gov. Mike DeWine and Ohio Department of Health Director Amy Acton recognize the importance of blood donations.
“They realize how vital it is,” James said, adding blood drives are exempt from the Stay At Home Ohio order.
The Union County Commissioners also signed a resolution March 24 to indicate their support.
The resolution states, “the Union County Commissioners continue to support the important work of the American Red Cross and encourage our citizens to continue to give blood during this challenging time.”
“Donating blood is a safe process and the Red Cross has taken additional steps to ensure that giving or receiving blood continues to be safe during this challenging time,” the resolution includes.
James said the Red Cross has “always had strict health and safety procedures,” but they have been amped up to provide additional protection against COVID-19.
Regularly, James said the organization’s employees wear gloves, wipe down areas touched by donors, use sterile collection sets for every donor, wipe each donor’s arm with an alcohol wipe and conduct physicals to ensure donors are healthy on the donation day.
He said many of the additional safety protocols revolve around the practice of social distancing and other CDC guidelines.
In light of the COVID-19 outbreak, the Red Cross is enhancing disinfection of equipment, providing hand sanitizer, checking donor temperatures before they enter the blood drive and spacing beds between donors.
James said he is encouraged by the community’s willingness to help one another during the COVID-19 outbreak. He said this desire to help can be used to meet an urgent need for blood.
“It’s been fantastic the way the community has come together in this crisis.
“Lots of people are asking, ‘How can I help?’ This is one of the best ways we can,” James said.
He said donated blood is crucial to a wide variety of patients in need, ranging from victims of car accidents, to pregnant women who experience complications during birth, to cancer patients.
The coronavirus is at the forefront of many people’s minds, but James said those in need of blood are still depending on others to help.
“This is going to go on for a while – we are going to need to keep the blood supply steady for weeks to come,” James said.
He said the Red Cross is still hosting blood drives, but asked those interested to be patient as some dates or locations may have changed.
James said potential donors should check the organization’s website for details of upcoming drives.
He said “situations are fluid right now,” so they should keep an eye out for changes and reach out to organizers with any questions.
James also encouraged individuals who have questions about their eligibility to donate to contact the Red Cross.
“A lot of folks think they can’t give blood… sometimes that’s true, but sometimes the science and the reasons behind that have changed,” he explained.
He said he is “a perfect example” of someone who once thought they couldn’t donate blood, but is now able to.
When he was about 5 years old, James said he was diagnosed with Hepatitis A and believed for most of his life he was unable to donate blood. Several years ago he learned that newer evidence shows he can safely donate.
James said he feels many others could be in a situation similar to his, but now is the time to step up to make a difference.
“You might just be eligible to save a life,” he said.