Cogdell Memorial Hospital will host a blood drive Tuesday for Vitalant Blood Services.
Vitalant officials say blood is necessary for medical care and donating is safe despite the COVID-19 pandemic.
“It’s critical for healthy, eligible Americans to donate blood even as our leaders call on us to avoid gatherings and to change our daily habits,” said Vitalant’s chief medical and scientific officer, Dr. Ralph Vassallo.
“Donating blood is always a safe process, and we are taking some extra precautions during our response to Coronavirus.”
Among those precautions are, only healthy people are encouraged to donate; donors must be feeling well and free of respiratory symptoms to donate; potential donors’ temperatures will be taken upon check-in; and social distancing will be used during the donation process.
People who meet at-risk criteria for Coronavirus will not be allowed to donate; staff will wear gloves and personal protective gear during the donation process, and wipe down donation areas after each donation using a disinfectant; staff use sterile, single-user collection sets for each donor, and scrub the donor’s arm for at least 30 seconds before each donation; and staff who don’t feel well are required to stay home.
The blood drive will be Tuesday from 11:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the Thornhill Building, 5305 Trinity Boulevard. Donors should make an appointment by calling (806) 797-6804 or by visiting www.bloodhero.com.