A blood drive in Norwich will include safety provisions.
Red Cross warning of severe shortages
Norwich — Local, state and national events are being canceled every day in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic, but the Greater Norwich Area Chamber of Commerce has been urged to keep one major event planned for Friday on its calendar, although with some modifications.
The chamber has partnered with the local chapter of the American Red Cross, several local businesses and the Holiday Inn to plan the “Community EPIC Blood Drive” from 1 to 6:30 p.m. Friday at the Holiday Inn, 10 Laura Boulevard, Norwich. The drive originally was meant to replenish blood supplies after the traditionally slow winter donation season.
But with the COVID-19 virus spreading across the country, the American Red Cross is warning of severe blood shortages nationwide. As of Tuesday, 2,700 planned Red Cross blood drives have been canceled by host or sponsoring groups because of coronavirus concerns, resulting in 86,000 fewer blood donations, the Connecticut chapter said Tuesday. In Connecticut, 46 blood drives, expected to yield about 1,300 donations, have been canceled.
Angela Adams, executive director of the Greater Norwich Area Chamber of Commerce, said Tuesday that Red Cross officials have urged the chamber not to cancel Friday's blood drive.
“We know there's a shortage, so we don't want to pull that,” Adams said.
But the planned festive atmosphere will be greatly muted, she said.
The chamber has canceled a plan to have local businesses and civic groups provide volunteers to help greet donors, process registration forms and assist with snacks and beverages following donation, as well as a contest to rate the volunteer groups, with a planned donation in the group's name to the Red Cross by Eastern Savings Bank. Adams said the drive will be conducted with only the essential staff needed to process registrations and assist donors.
No walk-ins will be allowed, and donors are required to register in advance for specific donation times. Donors can register for an appointment at RedCrossBlood.org in advance, or use the RapidPass registration form, also on the website, on the day of the drive only. Donors also can download the Red Cross Blood Donor App for mobile devices to register for a specific drive and time.
Kelly Isenor, spokeswoman for the Connecticut chapter of the American Red Cross, said because of concerns about the coronavirus, the Red Cross is putting out detailed information on the safety of blood donations and transfusions. The Red Cross is emphasizing that people who don't feel well should refrain from donating. All donors will have their temperature taken at the site and will be asked to use hand sanitizer at the start and at different times during the process, spacing beds farther apart and disinfecting surfaces between donors.
“It's not a great situation now,” Isenor said of the blood shortage. “Even before the coronavirus crisis or emergency, we were already seeing blood going out as fast as it came in. We had weather cancellations, it's cold and flu season. The message now through every channel we can is donating blood is a safe process. Having a safe blood supply is part of healthy society.”
Isenor said in addition to Friday's blood drive at the Holiday Inn, the Red Cross is extending hours at its Norwich donor center at 45 Salem Turnpike. The center will be open at least 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. daily and will be open until 6:15 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays for the foreseeable future.