On March 11, the World Health Organization declared the COVID-19 outbreak a pandemic. This caused the cancellation of big events such as graduation, concerts, sporting events, festivals and any other events that will bring groups of people together into one place.
This also means the cancellation of blood drives.
According to the American Red Cross website, because of the rapid canceling of blood drives, that means that those who need blood desperately, especially those who have been infected with the virus, aren’t able to get the blood in time. Although the Red Cross keeps blood stocked, it has a “shelf life” and needs to be replaced frequently.
Some people may be afraid to donate since it is advised to stay home and not go to places where a lot of people might be, but there isn’t a need to worry as Red Cross lists on their website the protocols their employees follow to ensure those who come in are safe. Some requirements the Red Cross follows to ensure donors are safe include;
- Wearing gloves and changing them often
- Wiping down areas touched by donors after each session
- Conducting mini-physicals on donors to make sure they are healthy
Leave a Reply