Cinnaminson High School Blood Drive Moved Amid Pandemic

CINNAMINSON, NJ — The Cinnaminson High School Honor Society's American Red Cross Blood Drive is moving locations, but it will still take place this year.

The blood drive is set for 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Feb. 5 at the Cinnaminson Community Center, 1621 Riverton Road. Appointments are preferred, and can be made by visiting redcrossblood.org.

The blood drive was moved amid the coronavirus pandemic, Cinnaminson High School student Kiera Pease said during Tuesday's Board of Education meeting. Pease is a student representative in the district.

The blood drive follows the high school's clothing drive that was held on Monday. While the district's Martin Luther King Day of Service activities were canceled due to the pandemic, the clothing drive went on. Pease and Superintendent of Schools Stephen Cappello both called the drive a success.

"Thank you to everyone who contributed," Pease said.

Students throughout the district recently returned to school as part of the district's hybrid learning environment. The district had been in a full-remote learning environment as cases of the coronavirus spiked in the region.

Students in the hybrid model returned on Jan. 11, and were greeted by balloons and welcome signs.

"Everyone is happy to be back," Pease said.

As part of the Feb. 5 blood drive, donated blood can be tested for coronavirus antibodies for possible platelet and plasma donations.

In April, the Red Cross began collecting coronavirus convalescent plasma from previously diagnosed individuals, who could only give at one of approximately 170 Red Cross blood donation centers across the country.

Convalescent plasma contains coronavirus antibodies that may help the most critical patients actively fighting this virus. Now, whole blood donations made at any Red Cross blood drive or blood donation center could be helpful in this effort.

Antibody testing may indicate if the donor's immune system has produced antibodies to this coronavirus, regardless of whether an individual showed symptoms of the coronavirus. Donations are tested using samples pulled at the time of donation and sent to a testing laboratory where they will also undergo routine infectious disease testing.

Coronavirus antibody test results will be available within one to two weeks in the Red Cross Blood Donor App or donor portal at RedCrossBlood.org. A positive antibody test result does not confirm infection or immunity. The Red Cross is not testing donors to diagnose illness, referred to as a diagnostic test.

Each Red Cross blood drive and donation center follows the highest standards of safety and infection control, and additional precautions— including temperature checks, social distancing and face coverings for donors and staff — have been implemented to help protect the health of all those in attendance.