Blood Donations Encouraged Amid IL Coronavirus Crisis

ACROSS ILLINOIS — With coronavirus concerns closing restaurants, schools and other businesses throughout Illinois, the American Red Cross is facing a severe blood shortage. The shortage is related to an increased number of cancellations, Red Cross officials said in a news release.

Officials said some 2,700 blood drives across the U.S. have been canceled due to ongoing coronavirus fears as increased social distancing keeps people from gathering in large crowds. In Illinois, 65 blood drives were canceled, which has led 2,230 fewer blood donations, officials said.

"We know that people want to help, but they may be hesitant to visit a blood drive during this
time. We want to assure the public that blood donation is a safe process, and we have put additional precautions in place at our blood drives and donation centers to protect all who come out," said Chris Hrouda president of Red Cross Biomedical Services.

The Red Cross has put the following changes in place to help ensure donor safety:

• Checking the temperature of staff and donors before entering a drive to make sure they
  are healthy
• Providing hand sanitizer for use before the drive, as well as throughout the donation process.
• Spacing beds, where possible, to follow social distancing practices between blood donors
• Increased and enhanced disinfecting of surfaces and equipment

Similar measures are being put into place at Versiti Blood Center of Illinois, which is also facing shortages. Versiti Chief Medical Officer Dr. Tom Abshire said in a statement, "We are currently exploring ways we can implement new blood drives at secondary locations to replace the drives that have been canceled by high schools, universities, businesses and other organizations."

Visit the Versiti or American Red Cross websites for more information about how to donate blood.