We work together every day to do important work. But today, we want to accomplish something even more meaningful. The Red Cross has to collect 15,000 blood donations every day to have enough blood to help patients in 2,700 hospitals and transfusion centers across the country. That’s a lot of patients in need and all of us, coming together, can help ensure patients receive life saving blood.
So SleevesUp and help us reach our goal. Make and keep an appointment to give blood to the American Red Cross.
Thanks to the Heroes at UHC Virginia C&S our United Together SleevesUp virtual blood drive was able to collect over 65 pints of blood and potentially save 180 lives. Because of the success of the campaign, Senior Leadership has allowed us to create a 2nd virtual blood drive. Today I would like to announce our 2nd campaign UHC VIRGINIA C&S HEROES SleevesUP. Together, we can help prevent another blood shortage as hospitals have resumed surgical procedures and patient treatments that were paused this spring due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Currently blood banks are in need of all types of blood, but specifically they are in need of type O because it can be used on different types of patients.
Please remember to visit the campaign page to pledge your support. This is an important step to track donations so they can be reported to supervisors and count towards individual MAP goals. I ask that each staff only pledge once for each blood donation made. Each staff member will then need to schedule your donation with The Red Cross (information listed below). Please note that time spent donating during working hours will be considered time worked. Please notify your individual supervisor if you plan to use working hours for donation time to ensure there is adequate coverage during your time away from work. Tweets and Instagram posts with the # UHCVAC&SHEROES will populate to the campaign page. Staff member are also encouraged to send donation photos to Tracey Taylor [email protected]. These photos will be uploaded to the campaign page.
UHC VIRGINIA C&S HEROES SleevesUP campaign page: http://sleevesup.redcrossblood.org/campaign/uhc-virginia-cs-heroes-sleevesup/
DID YOU KNOW: The Red Cross will now automatically test you for a covid antibodies with results in 7-10 days.
RED CROSS DONOR SAFETY PRECAUTIONS:
• Checking temperatures of staff and donors before entering.
• Providing hand sanitizer throughout the donation process.
• Following social distancing between donors.
• Ensuring face masks/coverings are worn by staff and donors.
• Routinely disinfecting surfaces and equipment.
• Wearing gloves and changing them often.
DONOR REQUIREMENTS: A blood donor card or driver’s license or two other forms of identification are required at check-in. Individuals who are 17 years of age in most states (16 with parental consent where allowed by state law), weigh at least 110 pounds and are in generally good health may be eligible to donate blood.
SCHEDULING YOUR DONATION: Donation appointments can be made for the coming days and weeks by downloading the free Blood Donor App, visiting RedCrossBlood.org, calling 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) Blood and platelet donors can save time at their next donation by using RapidPass® to complete their pre-donation reading and health history questionnaire online, on the day of their donation, before arriving at the blood drive.
Blood Bank Statistics for Thursday, August 20, 2020
NATIONAL BLOOD SUPPLY
59 COMMUNITY BLOOD CENTERS
5 Community blood centers have a 1-day supply or less.
BLOOD SUPPLY LEVEL PERCENTAGES
0-1 DAYS 8%, 1-2 DAYS 25%, 3+ DAYS 3%, N/A 63%
SOUTH REGION BLOOD SUPPLY
VA, NC, TN, SC, GA, FL, AL, MS, LA, AR
12 BLOOD CENTERS equaling 25% OF NATIONAL BLOOD SUPPLY
BLOOD SUPPLY LEVEL PERCENTAGES
0-1 DAYS 0%, 1-2 DAYS 25%, 3+ DAYS 8%, N/A 67%
**Centers with a blood supply of 3 or more days have enough blood to meet normal operating demands. Those with only a 2-day supply are running low and need blood donations. Centers with a day or less of blood are critically low on blood and need donations as soon as possible. “N/A” indicates centers that haven’t yet reported a blood supply level.
Challenge your friends (or anyone for that matter) to a friendly competition! Who will win the battle to do the most social good for your community?
Put your virtual blood drive campaign against one or even multiple other campaigns to see who can recruit more blood donors for the American Red Cross.
