Red Cross blood drives continue.
American Legion posts’ blood drives last year brought in over 74,000 pints of blood from 48,000 donors nationwide. And several posts have safely conducted blood drives in recent weeks to support the urgent need due to COVID-19.
The Red Cross advises American Legion members that donating blood remains a safe process and donations will help keep the blood supply stable. The Red Cross follows traditional safety procedures such as wearing and changing gloves often, disinfecting donor-touched areas and sterilizing tools before each donation.
Red Cross updated policies for blood drives include:
- Checking the temperature of staff and donors before entering a donation center to make sure they are healthy.
- Providing hand sanitizer for use before entering the center, as well as throughout the donation process.
- Following social distancing practices between donors including donor beds, as well as waiting and refreshment areas.
- Increasing enhanced disinfecting of surfaces and equipment.
How you can help
If your post can host a blood drive, please sign up here. To schedule an appointment to donate blood, visit here. The Red Cross is asking donors to sign up beforehand, instead of just walking in, to maintain safety standards.
- Dispatch