Precautions will be taken to ensure donor safety.
Children's Hospital Colorado is asking for much-needed blood donations. During times like these, where people are staying home to keep the coronavirus from spreading, it can be particularly hard for medical institutions to get blood donations, even though the daily need continues. In the case of Children's Hospital, it's currently in dire need of donations to meet transfusion needs.
Our Blood Donor Center needs your help. We’ve reached a critical point where our #platelet supply is low, and we need new donors. Please call 720-777-5398 to be screened by phone and schedule an appointment for this week. #DonateBlood #GiveBlood #Colorado https://t.co/zj6DkpD5Qa
— Children's Colorado (@ChildrensColo) March 16, 2020
According to Children's Colorado, sick and injured infants, kids, and teens receive more than 8,000 units of lifesaving blood products per year. Without access to an ample supply, many of the critical procedures in the Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders, Heart Institute, Center for Children's Surgery, Pediatric Intensive Care Unit, and other departments across the hospital would not be possible.
Because of the current COVID-19 crisis, Children's Hospital says that all precautions will be taken to ensure donor and technician safety.
"We are asking our community to help us ensure we can continue to meet the transfusion needs of our patients. If you're able to donate blood or platelets, please call 720-777-5398 to be screened over the phone and to schedule an appointment," said the hospital. "Also, keeping our donors safe is our top priority. We are proactively taking precautions to prevent exposure to the coronavirus (COVID-19) such as: disinfecting all shared surfaces in between donors, screening all donors and technicians, spacing chairs six feet apart and providing food sealed in individual packages."
If you're able to donate blood or platelets, please call 720-777-5398 to be screened over the phone and to schedule an appointment.
Do you know of other medical organizations or charities that are in need of blood donations during this challenging time? Let everyone know in the comments below.
