Blood donations ongoing through COVID-19 precautions

Saturday, April 4, 2020

TRULY MARTIN

tmartin@stategazette.com

As the coronavirus continues to spread, community members have an opportunity to make a difference and help others with the donation of blood.

Cherie Parker, the public relations coordinator for Lifeline Blood Services, said it is a goal to make sure the area’s blood supply does not reach a critical level. While the nation battles a shortage of blood, she said, Dyer County has a stable supply.

“Right now, the blood supply is stable,” Parker said. “We still need to collect blood on a daily basis. We need people to donate, but we are not in an emergency situation. Donating blood is a necessity and it is OK for healthy donors to leave their homes to donate blood.”

Parker said all blood types are needed and O positive is always collected because it’s the most common blood type. Currently, the blood center is low on B positive and B negative blood types.

“We need about 500 units of blood a week,” she continued.

Blood centers across the country have seen a significant drop in donations since the start of March, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, which regulates blood centers. Forced cancelations of blood drives due to COVID-19 negatively had the area in a crisis over blood shortages, said Parker.

So far, the area’s response for blood donations has been stronger than she could have imagined.

“An urgent call has been answered,” Parker said. “We were in critical need two weeks ago. There was an overwhelming response and hundreds showed up to donate.”

She says going forward, blood will be needed for all sorts of patients.

“Patients continue to face life-threatening conditions like cancer, accidents and surgeries and they will not survive if blood is not there for them,” said Parker.

While donor blood is not specifically used to treat coronavirus patients, transfusions are still needed for cases such as trauma, organ transplants and other health complications.

According to the American Red Cross, red blood cells are viable for 42 days, so it’s essential to keep new donations coming in. Donations take about an hour.

The Lifeline Bloodmobile will be at the West Tennessee Healthcare Dyersburg Hospital on April 7 from noon to 4 p.m. for healthy community members wanting to donate blood.

Donation sites have infection safeguards to protect donors, staff and the blood products.

“LIFELINE Blood Services staff is observing social distancing protocols so this may mean that donors will be asked to wait in their cars until their turn to donate,” said Parker. “Bloodmobiles and Blood Center are sanitized.”

Donors keep a safe distance from one another, and staff will consider best safety procedures in the days ahead, she added.

Community members wishing to donate blood are asked to complete a pre-blood donation questionnaire, at www.lifelinebloodserv.org.

For more information, or to schedule an appointment to donate blood, call 731-427-4431.

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