By Evelyn Zhong, Podcast Editor
The American Red Cross is looking for donors from the community to help maintain a stable supply of blood throughout the pandemic. Students can donate blood if they are over 16, meet the weight and height requirements, are in good health and have not donated in the last 56 days. With the nationwide cancellation of blood drives due to safety concerns, the Red Cross recommends that donors stay safe by scheduling appointments online weeks in advance. The Pasadena Blood Donation Center is the nearest fixed location for TC residents and is open seven days a week. Opening hours may vary.
“Before the pandemic, we were already in a constant need for blood donations,” TCHS American Red Cross Club president junior Justina Sou said. “Recently, it has been pushed further. It has been said that doctors must now choose who to give blood to due to this shortage. This shouldn’t need to happen.”
Blood donations are currently one of the top priorities for the Red Cross. As stated by the Red Cross, donated blood, platelets and AB Elite plasma provide direct support to medical services that treat patients with severe blood loss and chronic illness or disease. More than 80 percent of the Red Cross’ blood supply comes from blood drives. Due to the COVID-19 outbreak, blood is in especially high demand. In the past few months, more than 6,000 blood drives shut down, resulting in the loss of 200,000 possible donations.
“The volunteers and staff are definitely implementing social distancing when donors arrive to give blood and during the process,” American Red Cross Executive Director of the Greater San Gabriel and Pomona Valley Erica Frausto said. “We are currently following all protocols and guidelines so we recommend that donors make an appointment first so that they can understand what the new process will be like.”
Additional precautionary measures ensure the safety of donors and staff during the pandemic. American Red Cross staff wear face masks and carry out enhanced disinfections of high-touch surfaces and equipment. Staff check donors’ temperatures prior to entry of the blood drive or donation center, donor beds are six feet apart and staff administer mini-physical exams as usual.
“Anyone can find themselves in need of blood one day,” Frausto said. “It’s important that we don’t put ourselves in a position where there is a shortage of blood. I encourage people to give blood, not only for taking care of themselves and their families, but to take care of their neighbors and community as well.”