Red Cross says there's a severe blood shortage due to outbreak

[eppur_se_muova]

by: WHNT News 19
Posted: Mar 17, 2020 / 10:14 AM CDT / Updated: Mar 17, 2020 / 10:15 AM CDT

The American Red Cross says hundreds of blood drive cancellations and donors cancelling appointments has them facing a severe blood supply shortage.

Nearly 2,700 Red Cross blood drives have been canceled across the country due to coronavirus concerns, resulting in some 86,000 fewer blood donations, the group said Tuesday. More than 80 percent of the blood the group receives is from blood drives, according to a news release.
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The Red Cross said it expects the number of donor cancellations to increase as people isolate themselves in an effort to stop the virus from spreading.

The blood shortage could impact patients who need surgery, victims of car accidents and other emergencies, or patients suffering from cancer, according to the group.

The Red Cross is adding appointment slots at donation centers and expanding capacity at many community blood drives across the country over the next few weeks to ensure ample opportunities for donors to give. The group said it also is adding safety measures at donation sites to prevent the spread of the virus.
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People can schedule an appointment to give blood with the Red Cross by visiting RedCrossBlood.org, using the Red Cross Blood Donor App, calling 1-800-RED-CROSS or enabling the Blood Donor Skill on any Alexa Echo device.
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more: https://whnt.com/news/coronavirus/red-cross-says-theres-a-severe-blood-shortage-due-to-outbreak/

[brewens]

1. Suck it up buttercups! If you ever thought you'd be the one to save someones life in a tight spot,

here's your chance. I donated blood platelets yesterday at the center I retired from.

As businesses and medical facilities go, a blood center is as safe as it gets. Donors know they can't donate with anything like cold or flu symptoms, so at least anyone like that won't be around. The staff told me they are not to even think of coming in if they might be coming down with something. Of course we have people with no symptoms that could still infect a blood center, but I thought it was worth the risk.

[Native]

2. I'm getting urgent emails daily. Severe shortage here. They've been offering $10 for almost 2 weeks

Just goes to show you it's the older population here that does the bulk of the donations. So now it looks like the Juicebox Revolutionaries might not get blood if they need it. We older folks did it for free, but they're going to have to offer more than ten bucks to get our younger population to donate here.

We only have one center in our county. They use the mobile units here. No way I'm going to be in a small enclosed space with a bunch of people.

[brewens]

3. Is that a ten dollar gift card? Blood centers are not allowed to pay donors and the FDA is pretty

picky about what kind of goodies and reward programs they can run.

[Native]

4. Yup.

[mahatmakanejeeves]

7. I can't donate blood in the US. I can in Canada.

If the Embassy of Canada, which I work down the street from, has a blood drive, I'm good to go.

[bullwinkle428]

5. I was permanently banned from donating blood in 2001, based on a hepatitis B vaccination.

Here's a link to explain this issue further...

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/7770897#:~:text=CONCLUSION%3A%20Individuals%20recently%20vaccinated%20for,recently%20received%20hepatitis%20B%20vaccine.

In my case, it was probably 4-5 years after receiving the 3 shots administered as part of the vaccination process.

[frazzled]

6. I used to be banned

because I didn't weigh the minimum 110 pounds. Sadly, I don't have that excuse anymore (40 years later). But I am kind of oldish (I refuse to say "old."

[brewens]

8. That stuff changes all the time. I used to do the pre-donation screening. This sounds like something

that they would draw tubes for to be tested, then have the center physician look over your case and possibly allow you to donate. If you really want to donate, you should go in and ask them again. I had several donors that had been permanently deferred for various reasons cleared to donate.