Blood drives are one of the most critical health facilities in the United States of America that does supply a huge amount of public blood transfusion that every citizen might need in case of emergency. Today, Mar. 10, some states in the country are now pleading for people to donate their blood in order for the hospitals to not run out of this essential human body part. What would happen if there are no blood donations in the country?
Coronavirus USA: Blood supply donations drop 'emergency low'
Coronavirus USA: Is it Safe to Transfer Blood? Why USA is Running Low in Blood Donation
If you are located at the Pacific Northwest part of the country, you might be in trouble of blood shortage as blood donations in public hospitals are now running short amid Coronavirus spread in the country.
Patch reported this week that blood supplies in this part of the country are "at risk of collapse" since schools, businesses, and even hospitals cancelled most blood drives. One blood transfusion company in Seattle named Bloodworks Northwest expressed their pleading for healthy people to donate blood in times of this disease in order to save people that needs blood the most.
"It is our shared civic responsibility to get the word out that our community is under a grave threat," Bloodworks CEO Curt Bailey said in a news release. "The cancellation of blood drives creates a serious public health concern since nearly 60% of our blood supply is collected at mobile blood drives."
Aside from lack of blood donations, this problem might also cause more trouble for hospitals since doctors would be forced to prioritize who's going to have blood or not since there's a massive shortage.
Yup, it is safe to donate blood, say health experts
One of the major factors why the USA experiences a major shortage of blood donations is the fact that people tend to believe that blood transfusion might also transfer Coronavirus.
Health experts and Red Cross already claimed that blood transfer has no relationship with causing Coronavirus to the body, and there are still no studies that prove that it can affect a healthy person.
Therefore, the Red Cross asks healthy people to donate their blood in hospitals to protect other people that needs it the most aside from Coronavirus patients. Blood doesn't just help the country to make first-aid regarding the spread of the virus, but people with cancer, heart surgery, and other major operations also badly need blood donations.
"We're asking the American people to help keep the blood supply stable during this challenging time. As communities across the country prepare for this public health emergency, it's critical that plans include a readily available blood supply for hospital patients," said Chris Hrouda, president, Red Cross Blood Services. "As fears of coronavirus rise, low donor participation could harm blood availability at hospitals, and the last thing a patient should worry about is whether lifesaving blood will be on the shelf when they need it most."
Red Cross insists that each of their blood operations and transfusions is held with proper hygiene protocol in order for the volunteers to prevent getting a possible virus from other people.
