Residents Urged to Donate Blood to Combat Shortage
YOUNGSTOWN – The American Red Cross is facing a severe blood shortage because of an unprecedented number of blood drive cancellations due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Healthy individuals are needed to donate now to help patients counting on lifesaving blood. Eligible donors are urged to make an appointment to give blood, and can do so at Stambaugh Auditorium on the following dates:
- March 23, 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. (limited time slots remaining)
- March 25, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
- April 1, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
- April 8, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Appointments can be made online at RedCross.org.
Blood donations remain essential, and are not prohibited by Gov. DeWine’s “stay at home” order. Patients are at risk if physicians and hospitals do not have enough blood to perform surgeries and provide treatments.
Donors must be in good health and feeling well, and are required to postpone their blood donation for 28 days following travel to China, Hong Kong and Macau, as well as Iran, Italy and South Korea, or if you’ve been diagnosed with or have had contact with anyone with a suspected or confirmed case of COVID-19.
Donating blood is a safe process, Red Cross employees have implemented added precautions to ensure blood drives and donation centers are safe for donors and staff. Precautions include spacing beds 6 feet apart, having hand sanitizer available, and donor and staff temperature checks before entering drives.
Published by The Business Journal, Youngstown, Ohio.
