Red Cross Asking For Healthy Blood Donors Following Severe Weather
Posted
Staff Report-
FORT WAYNE – Record-breaking cold and winter storms across much of the U.S. have had a significant impact on blood donations.
The American Red Cross is urging healthy individuals, especially those with Type O blood, to give now to ensure blood products are available for patient emergencies when help can’t wait, according to a news release.
Extreme winter weather has forced the cancellation of hundreds of Red Cross blood drives in about 30 states and caused more than 15,000 blood and platelet donations to go uncollected, the release states. However, every day, thousands of patients rely on lifesaving blood donations. The need for blood is constant, even during snowstorms and the COVID-19 pandemic.
To help ensure lifesaving patient care isn’t impacted, individuals are urged to make appointments to donate in the coming days and weeks by downloading the Red Cross Blood Donor App, visiting www.RedCrossBlood.org or by calling 800-733-2767.
The Red Cross is testing blood, platelet and plasma donations for COVID-19 antibodies. The test may indicate if the donor’s immune system has produced antibodies to this coronavirus, regardless of whether an individual developed COVID-19 symptoms. Red Cross antibody tests will be helpful to identify individuals who have COVID-19 antibodies and may now help current coronavirus patients in need of convalescent plasma transfusions. Convalescent plasma is a type of blood donation collected from COVID-19 survivors that have antibodies that may help patients who are actively fighting the virus. Plasma from whole blood donations that test positive for high levels of COVID-19 antibodies may be used to help COVID-19 patients.
COVID-19 antibody test results will be available within one to two weeks in the Red Cross Blood Donor App or donor portal at RedCrossBlood.org. A positive antibody test result does not confirm infection or immunity. The Red Cross is not testing donors to diagnose illness, referred to as a diagnostic test. To protect the health and safety of Red Cross staff and donors, it is important that individuals who do not feel well or believe they may be ill with COVID-19 postpone donation.
Each Red Cross blood drive and donation center follows safety and infection control and additional precautions, including temperature checks, social distancing and face coverings for donors and staff.
The following are local Red Cross blood donation sites:
• Nappanee – Tuesday, noon to 6 p.m., Maranatha Fellowship Church, 9639 W. Hepton Road
• Akron – Friday, 1 to 6 p.m., Akron Elementary School, 202 E. Rural St.
• Milford – March 9, 3:30 to 7:30 p.m., Milford School, 611 W. Emeline St.
• North Webster – 1 to 6 p.m., North Webster Church of God, 302 N. Main St.
• Syracuse – March 11, noon to 6 p.m., Calvary United Methodist Church, 801 S. Huntington St.
• Warsaw – Friday, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., Kosciusko Community Hospital, 2101 E. Dubois Drive; Sunday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Center Lake Pavilion, 117 Canal St.; and March 9, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., Center Lake Pavilion, 117 Canal St.
• Winona Lake – Thursday, noon to 5:30 p.m., Grace College Gordon Rec Center, 100 Publishers Drive.
All blood types are needed to ensure a reliable supply for patients. A blood donor card or driver’s license or two other forms of identification are required at check-in. Individuals who are 17 years of age in most states (16 with parental consent where allowed by state law), weigh at least 110 pounds and are in generally good health may be eligible to donate blood. High school students and other donors 18 years of age and younger also have to meet certain height and weight requirements.
Blood and platelet donors can save time at their next donation by using RapidPass® to complete their pre-donation reading and health history questionnaire online, on the day of their donation, before arriving at the blood drive. To get started, follow the instructions at www.RedCrossBlood.org/RapidPass or use the Blood Donor App.
The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides emotional support to victims of disasters; supplies about 40% of the nation’s blood; teaches skills that save lives; provides international humanitarian aid; and supports military members and their families.
The Red Cross is a not-for-profit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to perform its mission.
For more information, visit redcross.org or cruzrojaamericana.org, or find information on Twitter at @RedCross.
