State and federal officials are reporting a shortage of blood donations amid the coronavirus pandemic, and have issued an urgent call for blood donors, citing special precautions that have been taken to ensure the safety of both donors and staff.

Thousands of planned donations are at risk because of cancellations from coronavirus concerns. In response to the possibility of blood shortages, the Coffee Memorial Blood Center will conduct a community blood drive from 12-6 pm on Thursday, May 14, at the Canadian city auditorium. All healthy donors are urged to answer the call.

“Social distancing does not have to mean social disengagement,” said U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Jerome Adams. “You can still go out and give blood. We’re worried about potential blood shortages in the future.”

If members of this community are looking for ways to help during these uncertain and challenging times, blood donation is a safe and easy way to help your neighbors, and ensure the health of our local blood supply. Patients need blood products every day for chemotherapy treatments, trauma situations, neonatal care, and more.

If donations cease, the national blood supply could be in crisis. Blood is a perishable product that requires continued replenishment to ensure a healthy supply.

“Donating blood is a safe process, and people should not hesitate to give,” said FEMA Administrator Pete Gaynor in a letter to all emergency management agencies. “Blood drives have the highest standards of safety and infection control.”

Blood centers follow all Centers for Disease Control recommendations, which include spacing donor chairs 6 feet apart, thoroughly adhering to environmental cleaning practices, and encouraging donors to make donation appointments ahead of time.

To ensure that all donors and staff are as safe as possible, additional cleaning steps have been implemented during blood drives, noted the Oklahoma Blood Institute’s chief medical officer, Dr. Tuan Le. “We use a cleaning solution on hard surfaces that is known to disinfect bacteria and viruses, including COVID-19,” Dr. Le said, “We clean all tables, chairs, donor beds, computers, and equipment between each donor, and at the end of our blood drive.”

Blood center staff have also been instructed to stay home if they are feeling unwell. All donor services staff are screened at the beginning of their shifts, and their temperatures are taken to ensure that no one has a fever.

TO SCHEDULE YOUR APPOINTMENT

To save time, complete your questions online (day of drive only) using Donor Express at www.thegiftoflife. org. For your lifesaving appointment, please go to yourbloodinstitute.org, or call 806.331.8833, toll free 1.877.574.8800. Find us online at www.thegiftoflife.org. A photo ID is required for all donors. Donors must be at least 17 years old. Exceptions will be made for 16-year-olds who have a signed parental consent form. Blood is needed every day!