Canceled drives in the Springfield area and the number of units lost include Springfield High School, 60 units; Northeastern High School, 18 units, Shawnee High School, 30 units, and Springfield Regional Medical Center, 25 units, said CBC Public Relations and Marketing Manager Mark Pompilio.
“This is a monthly Springfield community blood drive, so it’s indefinite when they will return to a monthly schedule,” Pompilio said. “Also, CBC collected platelets and plasma at this blood drive, so that is an additional loss to the blood supply.”
The CBC is also asking sponsors to keep their blood drives as scheduled, and are working with them to ensure set-ups meet social distancing guidelines.
Maiden Lane Church in Springfield is not canceling the blood drive scheduled for Monday, April 13, said Pastor Mark Martin.
“We feel that the need is great and the Community Blood Center has assured us that the protocols they will be using will make it a safe environment for those who are able and willing to donate,” he said. “We believe that this is one of the key ways we can help serve our community during this crisis.”
Martin said the church wants to do their part to help even though many other drives have canceled.
“We realize that a significant number of donation drives have been canceled, but the need for a safe blood supply remains. Should that supply become too low, it can put people’s lives at risk,” he said.
The drive will be held from 12:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. at 1201 Maiden Lane.
CBC has canceled 82 blood drives with a projected loss of more than 3,360 units of blood, Minneman said. Over 50 of those cancellations were blood drives scheduled in April.
“It is absolutely imperative that we keep an orderly schedule of blood donations at the Dayton CBC Donor Center and our mobile blood drives,” she said. “We must maintain social distancing at blood drives and cannot allow waiting and congregating. This is essential for protecting donors and staff from transmission of COVID-19.”
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The CBC is asking donors to make an appointment throughout April so the center is ready for what is to come, Minneman said. Scheduling an appointment is to protect donors and staff by being able to maintain social distancing at the drives.
“We must not over-collect blood. We ask donors for their patience and flexibility as we schedule them accordingly. We face many unknowns ahead as the number of COVID-19 cases reaches its peak. We must prepare for the possibilities of donors becoming ill and unable to donate, for an influx of patients at hospitals, and for sudden changes in demand for blood at the hospitals,” she said.
As of April 3, blood supply is at a normal level. Over the past week, 15 of the 24 scheduled blood drives were canceled.
“At the moment, much of this has been mitigated through increased collections at the Dayton CBC Donor Center and by significant drop in usage at the hospitals,” Pompilio said. “We are in a holding pattern now because we have a normal supply and usage is low, yet we look ahead at a depleted blood drive calendar and at the greater unknown of what will happen if COVID-19 infections increase, donors become ineligible and hospitals fill up with patients.”
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Centers have begun pre-screening all donors for temperatures at the entrance of each drive, and they must have a reading below 99.5 degrees to enter. Under specific circumstances, they will allow a second reading after 15-minutes.
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Blood donation requirements include a photo ID that includes full name, CBC donor ID card if applicable, at least 17 years of age or 16 years old with parental consent, weigh a minimum of 110 pounds and be in good physical health. If you have eligibility questions, email canidonate@cbccts.org or call 1-800-388-GIVE.
To make an appointment, visit www.DonorTime.com or call 937-461-3220.
What CBC wants you to know if you’re donating blood
—The blood supply is safe and it is safe to donate.
—Donors must be in good health, people with any cough or cold symptoms should not come to a blood drive, and take your temperature before coming to a blood drive.
—There are no reported cases of coronavirus transmission through blood transfusion.
—CBC is increasing hygienic and sanitary procedures.
—Blood drives are an essential activity for public health, and are controlled events with infection safeguards to protect donors, staff and blood products.
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