UNDATED, MI (WKZO AM/FM) — Healthy individuals looking to help during this pandemic can roll up a sleeve, to save a life.
Kalamazoo County Board Chair Julie Rogers says they are anticipating shortages in the blood supply as the coronavirus continues.
In fact the American Red Cross says through March 18th nearly 4,500 blood drives had to be canceled across the country due to coronavirus concerns, resulting in more than 150,000 fewer blood donations.
Rogers says the collection and the distribution of blood products are done under medical conditions and protocols will be in place to minimize the transmission of any viruses.
Governor Gretchen Whitmer even stopped by a local Red Cross office to give blood. The governor said, “I was proud to take a few minutes this week and do my part to prevent disruptions in our blood supply, even as we combat the spread of COVID-19. I urge healthy Michiganders to keep or make appointments to do the same, while following the proper precautions from state health experts that our Red Cross partners have put in place.”
Even with the governor’s “Stay Home, Stay Safe” executive order in place, individuals are allowed to leave their residence for Healthcare and Public Health Operations. This includes “organizations collecting blood, platelets, plasma, and other necessary materials.”
Versiti‘s Chief Medical Officer Thomas Abshire released a statement saying, “Versiti Blood Center of Michigan supplies blood to nearly 80 hospitals across the state. It is critically important to maintain an adequate blood supply so these hospitals can deliver life-saving blood products to trauma patients and cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy.”
Blood drives and ways to donate with the Red Cross and Versiti can be found by calling 1-800-RED CROSS or online at redcrossblood.org as well as calling 1-866-642-5663 or visiting Versiti.org/Michigan.
