Can I give blood during shelter-in-place? Yes, and there’s a critical shortage on Coast.
While people are taking more precautions to stop the spread of COVID-19, blood donation centers like Red Cross have had to adjust to keep a stable supply through the pandemic.
The need for blood is constant, and volunteer donors are the only source of blood for those in need.
There is a critical shortage, says John McFarland, executive director of the American Red Cross Southeast Mississippi Chapter. With larger blood drives canceled and some venues for drives canceling, the Red Cross has seen more than a 250,000 units of blood shortage.
“Blood is the one thing you can not replace, there’s no substitute and you can’t synthesize it,” McFarland said. “Especially the rarer blood types, you have to cast a wide net for the few of those fish that are the right blood type, and that net is getting smaller and smaller.”
The coronavirus has made getting people in the door difficult, but Red Cross says it is taking extra precautions to keep donors safe.
“We’re having to do things a little differently, but we’re getting the work done,” McFarland said.
Some of the precautions for blood donors are:
Before the donation process, your temperature is taken
Every employee wears masks and gloves
Everything touched is sanitized
People are kept more than 6 feet apart
The blood drives are limited to fewer people
Blood mobiles are not being used
Donating an essential service
Although the focus has been on the coronavirus, hospitals are still seeing patients in need of blood every day, from cancer patients to gunshot victims.
“It does help that elective procedures have mostly been canceled or moved due to the virus,” McFarland said. “But there are people who still need blood every day, it’s a constant need.”
Instead of hosting blood drives where a turnout could see more than 200 people, the Red Cross has smaller drives where they will draw 25 to 30 units a drive.
Although there is a shelter-in-place order from Gov. Tate Reeves, donating blood falls under essential health services. Those who are healthy are encouraged to donate, while those who fall in the higher-risk category are asked to follow CDC guidelines and stay home.
Upcoming Mississippi Coast blood drives:
Wednesday, April 9: Red Cross Gulfport office, 612 E. Pass Road from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Thursday, April 10: The Cypress Taphouse, 6616 Rose Farm Road, Ocean Springs, noon to 5 p.m.
Wednesday, April 15: Saint Clare Parish, 236 S. Beach Blvd., Waveland, 2-7 p.m.
Thursday, April 16: Young Men’s Business Club, Dantzler Street, Moss Point, 2-7 p.m.
Thursday, April 16: City of Ocean Springs, Ocean Springs Civic Center, 3730 Hwy 90, 11:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Sunday, April 19: Saint James Catholic Church Parish Gym, 366 Cowan Road, Gulfport, 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
How to sign up to give blood
If you are healthy, there are multiple ways for people to sign up to donate blood. Visit the Red Cross website to see drives being held near you or sign up for an appointment. You can also download the American Red Cross Blood Donor App or call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767).
How to host a blood drive
The Red Cross is also looking for indoor spaces to host blood drives that can meet social distancing requirements. Many blood drives have had to cancel to keep those precautions in place.
McFarland asks if anyone has a space the Red Cross can use to host a drive, to contact the Red Cross, 228-896-4511.
Plasma donations from recovered COVID-19 patients
The Food and Drug Administration announced Friday it is investigating whether plasma from a recovered patient can be used a treatment option for the coronavirus, because it may have antibodies to attack the SARS-CoV-2 virus.
“Although promising, convalescent plasma has not yet been shown to be effective in COVID-19,” the FDA says on its website.
Red Cross and the Mayor Clinic are assisting in the program. McFarland says the local Red Cross is not collecting convalescent plasma on the Coast, and more information is coming soon from the FDA and the president’s COVID-19 Task Force.
Those who have recovered from the virus can visit the convalescent plasma program website for more information.
This story was originally published April 9, 2020 at 5:00 AM.