Herkimer College to hold blood drive to combat severe blood shortage
Herkimer County Community College will be hosting a blood drive in partnership with the American Red Cross to help combat the organization’s severe blood shortage.
Herkimer County Community College will be hosting a blood drive in partnership with the American Red Cross to help combat the organization’s severe blood shortage.
The Red Cross estimates 2,600 blood drives have been cancelled in response to COVID-19, leading to at least 86,000 fewer blood donations. According to a March interview with U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Jerome Adams, healthy individuals should still go out to give blood amid the coronavirus pandemic to help ease the shortage.
The drive at Herkimer College will be taking several extra steps to ensure the health and safety of participants. In addition to being moved from the College’s Alumni Hall to its larger varsity gym to better maintain social distancing, the Red Cross will also follow several standards for safety and infection control, including:
- Checking temperatures 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.
- Following social distancing between donors including entry, donation and refreshment areas.
- Routinely disinfecting surfaces, equipment and donor-touched areas.
- Wearing gloves, and changing gloves often.
- Using sterile collection sets and an aseptic scrub for every donation.
- Staff wearing basic face masks.
Unlike blood drives in the past, the upcoming one will also be by appointment only.
The blood drive is scheduled from 10:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Thursday, April 23 in the PE building varsity gymnasium. Appointments can be made online at rcblood.org/2ViOLFF.