Blood donors needed now

As residents navigate through their daily lives while dealing with the new coronavirus, they shouldn't become complacent about other health necessities. Other medical emergencies continue to happen at a regular pace and blood supplies are needed but are running dangerously low in many communities, including Placer and neighboring counties. "We are in a critical situation right now," Stephen Walsh, the American Red Cross Gold Country Region's communications director told Gold Country Media. "Not only because of the coronavirus but also because of the cold and flu season." In upcoming days, local Vitalant blood donation centers will be extending donation hours to encourage donors, said Drew Fowler, communications manager for the Sacramento area. Lack of blood drives "Over the last few days, we have seen blood drive cancellations grow at an alarming rate," Walsh shared in a press release. "Through March 13, about 1,500 Red Cross blood drives have been canceled across the country due to coronavirus concerns, resulting in some 46,000 fewer blood donations. We expect that number to rise. "We understand why people may be hesitant to come out for a blood drive but want to reassure the public that we are taking additional precautions to ensure the safety of our donors and staff," Walsh said, which are * checking the temperature of staff and donors before entering a drive to make sure they are healthy. * having hand sanitizer for use before entering the drive, as well as throughout the donation process. * spacing beds, where possible, to follow social distancing practices between blood donors. Additionally, according to the press release, Red Cross employees follow strict safety procedures, including: * Wearing gloves and changing them often; * Wiping down all donor-touched surfaces and equipment * Preparing the arm for donation with an aseptic scrub. These measures will help to keep blood recipients, staff and donors safe, according to the press release. "There is no evidence and there are no reported cases of the coronavirus – or any respiratory virus - being transmitted by a blood transfusion," the press release stated. A critical need "There is a critical need for blood donations right now," Walsh said. "We encourage all healthy individuals who can get to a blood donation site to do so as soon as they can." While there currently aren't any Red Cross blood drives scheduled within Placer County, there was one Tuesday at the Calvary Chapel in Yuba City and one Wednesday at Powerschool in Folsom. Similarly, Vitalant mobile drives have virtually come to a standstill. However, there are an abundance of donation centers including Auburn, Folsom, Granite Bay, Placerville, Roseville, Sacramento-Fair Oaks, and Sacramento-Midtown, Vitalant's Fowler said. Donors can set up an appointment directly through the Sacramento appointment line at 866-822-5663. "There is no substitute for blood," Fowler said. "It's very safe (to donate) and it's a relatively painless procedure." In its press release, Vitalant stated, "Currently, all blood types and components are needed, with a significant need for platelets and type O blood donations. Platelets have a very short shelf life — only five days. Type O-negative blood is the universal blood type, frequently used in traumas, that can help stabilize all patients. Vitalant strives to maintain a four-day supply of blood just to provide what patients need, and currently, we're at less than half that for many blood types. "In addition to barring non-healthy individuals from donating, Vitalant is alerting individuals not to donate if they have visited Mainland China, South Korea, Iran or Italy within 28 days, have had a COVID-19 infection, or have been exposed to someone suspected of having a COVID-19 infection. Vitalant is taking precautions to protect donors and staff, including further spacing between donors and in the waiting area. "A blood shortage could impact patients who need surgery, victims of car accidents and other emergencies, or patients suffering from cancer," according to the Red Cross press release. "One of the most important things you can do to ensure we don't have another health care crisis on top of the coronavirus is to give blood. The need for blood is constant, and will continue even as the outbreak grows. Volunteer donors are the only source of blood for those in need. "Blood donors and blood drive hosts play a critical role in maintaining a sufficient blood supply and are asked to keep hosting blood drives for patients who rely on lifesaving blood. The Red Cross is also focused on ensuring we can continue to carry out other aspects of our lifesaving mission, including providing critical disaster relief services." For more information, visit the Red Cross Coronavirus Safety and Readiness Tips page at https://www.redcross.org/about-us/news-and-events/news/2020/coronavirus-safety-and-readiness-tips-for-you.html.