Red Cross Blood Drive (Sponsored by the YMCA)

The American Red Cross is facing a blood shortage and they're in search of healthy donors to help them restock. Something that might come as a bit of a shock is the impact the coronavirus outbreak has had on the country's blood supply.

The American Red Cross lists this on their website:

The American Red Cross has a constant and ongoing need for blood and platelet donations. There is no known end date in this fight against coronavirus, and the Red Cross needs the help of blood and platelet donors and blood drive hosts to meet the needs of patient care.

Locally, the Red Cross is teaming with Missoula Family YMCA to hold a blood drive next week. You can help save a life with a simple donation.

The Red Cross has held multiple blood drives since the pandemic started and have put an extra emphasis on sanitary measures to ensure donor safety.

The safety measures include:
Using Sterile Collection Sets - Spacing Beds 6 Feet Apart Where Possible - Having Hand Sanitizer Available - Using Aseptic Scrubs on Arms - Donor and Staff Temperature Checks Before Entering Drives - Wiping Down Donor-Touched Areas

The following is from the Facebook event page for the blood drive:

Donate blood and save lives at a blood drive sponsored by the Missoula Family YMCA! The drive is Wednesday, August 19, from 12:00–6:00 p.m. Donors may register at redcrossblood.org and enter the sponsor code: YMCAMISSOULA.

PLEASE NOTE: The drive is NOT at the Missoula Y facility and will instead be held at the Red Cross Donation Center at 2401 N. Reserve St. Suite 6.

Visit RedCrossBlood.org and enter YMCAMISSSOULA or call 1-800-733-2767 to schedule your appointment.