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After Drop in Number of Blood Drives, Red Cross Needs Donors in Southeast Ohio
By: Michelle Rotuno-Johnson
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ATHENS, Ohio (WOUB) — Colleges, universities, and K-12 schools are cancelling events nationwide due to the novel coronavirus, which means fewer opportunities for the American Red Cross to hold blood drives.
Jackie McCune, district manager for the Central Ohio Blood Region – South and North Team, said her team relies on high schools, colleges, and universities for about 20 percent of its donations. She also said the Red Cross sees fewer donors in winter months every year.
“Our inventory was really tight before any of the coronavirus issues hit, and now it’s just looking pretty scary over the next few weeks.”
McCune said it is crucial for people to find a way to donate blood.
“We are encouraging anybody that is healthy and has not donated for a while or is eligible to donate, that they come out and find a blood drive,” she said
McCune said there will be increased sanitation and safety procedures at all blood drives and mobile blood bank locations. For example, a volunteer will check the temperature of everyone who enters a blood drive location. People with a temperature of 99.5 degrees Farenheit or higher will not be allowed to donate. She also said that any donors who do not want to sign in using the mobile tablets can ask a volunteer to register them a different way.
McCune also said stress balls that donors use will be sanitized and put in a sterile glove; after each person uses a a stress ball, volunteers will throw away the old glove, re-sanitize the ball, and put a new glove on it.
“We are taking all the precautions to make sure that your donation is extremely safe for you and for our staff,” she said.
To find a blood drive near you, visit redcrossblood.org.