York County Medicine Fall 2020 - 16

YO R K C O M E D S O C . O R G

* With coronavirus cases increasing across the U.S., the Red
Cross has seen demand for convalescent plasma more than
double over the last month.

Each Red Cross blood drive and donation center follows the
highest standards of safety and infection control. To ensure the
health of staff and donors, precautions include:

* COVID-19 survivors have a unique ability to help up to three
patients recover from the virus, with each donation.

* Checking temperatures of staff and donors before entering a
drive to make sure they are healthy.

* Since April, thousands of COVID-19 survivors have rolled
up their sleeves to give their antibody rich plasma enabling the
Red Cross to collect and distribute nearly 30,000 lifesaving
convalescent plasma products to hospitals nationwide.

* Providing hand sanitizer for use before the drive, as well as
throughout the donation process.

* Individuals who have fully recovered and received a verified
COVID-19 diagnosis are urged to sign up to give convalescent
plasma now by completing our Donor Information Form on
RedCrossBlood.org/plasma4covid.

* Ensuring face masks or coverings are worn by both staff and
donors.

The Red Cross is testing blood, platelet and plasma donations
for COVID-19 antibodies. The test may indicate if the donor's
immune system has produced antibodies to this coronavirus,
regardless of whether they developed symptoms.
* Red Cross antibody tests will be helpful to identify individuals
who have COVID-19 antibodies and may qualify to be
convalescent plasma donors.
* The Red Cross is not testing donors to diagnose illness, referred
to as a diagnostic test. To protect the health and safety of our
staff and donors, it is important that individuals who do not
feel well or believe they may be ill with COVID-19 postpone
donation.
* Donors can expect to receive the results of their antibody test
within 7 to 10 days through our Red Cross Blood Donor app or
on our donor portal at RedCrossBlood.org.
The Red Cross needs the ongoing support of blood donors
and blood drive hosts to ensure blood products are available for
patients battling disease and facing the unexpected.
* As community organizations, businesses and schools restrict
access to facilities once open to local events and members of the
public, Red Cross blood drives at these locations also continue
to be canceled.
* It's important to remember that blood is perishable and cannot
be stockpiled. Red blood cells must be transfused within 42 days
of donation and platelets within just five days, so they must
constantly be replenished.
* Each day, the American Red Cross needs to collect nearly
13,000 blood donations and more than 2,600 platelet donations
to meet the needs of patients at about 2,500 hospitals and
transfusion centers across the country.
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York County Medicine | FALL 2020

* 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.
While the strain of this pandemic weighs heavily on our
nation, we must continue to care for one another. Blood
donation remains essential to ensuring the health of those in
our community.
* If you are eligible and feeling well, please make an appointment
today to give by using the Red Cross Blood Donor App, visiting
RedCrossBlood.org or calling 800-RED-CROSS.
* The need for blood is constant, and donors are the only source
of blood for those in need.
* Donors are asked to schedule an appointment prior to arriving
at the drive and are required to wear a face covering or mask
while at the drive, in alignment with new CDC public guidance.
* In times of crisis, the Red Cross is fortunate to witness the best
of humanity as people roll up a sleeve to help those in need. We
greatly appreciate the generosity of the public.
The Red Cross, FDA and our industry partners have worked
around the clock to put this new initiative in place by establishing
a process to identify, qualify and collect convalescent plasma safely
from recovered COVID-19 individuals, at both Red Cross and
other blood collection organizations. As of Aug. 6, the Red Cross
has collected convalescent plasma from more than 10,500 donors
and has distributed nearly 30,000 units to treat patients at hospitals
throughout the country to help treat patients actively fighting the
virus.
http://www.YORKCOMEDSOC.ORG http://www.RedCrossBlood.org/plasma4covid http://www.RedCrossBlood.org http://www.RedCrossBlood.org
York County Medicine Fall 2020

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