Donating blood is safe and can help save lives. Cancer patients, accident victims and so many others continue to need lifesaving blood. Healthy individuals are needed to give to help patients counting on lifesaving blood throughout this pandemic.
Every day our American Red Cross teams work hard to provide moments of hope to patients in need of lifesaving blood products—even during a pandemic.
Last year, we faced a significant amount of uncertainty with unprecedented challenges, yet the commitment from our employees, volunteers and blood donors was astounding and enabled us to continue our lifesaving mission. While we hope that 2021 will bring better days, it is clear we are still in the midst of the pandemic as reports of increased COVID-19 cases continue.
Unfortunately, as the number of COVID-19 cases surge, so does the need for convalescent plasma– causing the Red Cross to distribute more convalescent plasma products in the last month than any other month during the pandemic. With hospital distributions for this product increasing about 250% since October, we now have a shortage of this potentially lifesaving plasma.
Many people may have concerns right now about all aspects of public health. The Red Cross assures that blood donation is a safe process and people should not hesitate to give. Blood drives have highest standards of safety and infection control.
In the midst of this coronavirus emergency, the Red Cross of Colorado is asking people to take this responsibility seriously by practicing social distancing and donating blood. These two activities—which are not mutually exclusive—will go a long way in keeping community members healthy by slowing the spread of the virus and by ensuring that patients across the country receive lifesaving blood.
While the Red Cross of Colorado does not collect blood, the community is encouraged to support self collecting hospitals by donating blood today.
Call or go online to schedule your blood donation:
Denver: Children’s Hospital Colorado Blood Donor Center
- 720-777-5398
Loveland: UCHealth Medical Center of the Rockies.
- 970-624-1510
