BETHLEHEM, Pa. - Qiana Cressman of the Miller-Keystone Blood Center, says demand for blood products is up, now that hospitals are scheduling elective surgeries again.
“So when the outbreak first happened, about 50 percent of our shipment of blood to hospitals declined. So, we on average need about 450 blood donors a day,” said Cressman.
Cressman says the drop in demand resulted in furloughs for 70 staff members. They also had to halt mobile blood drives at churches and other community sites for safety reasons. She’s urging people to donate - at center locations.
“Please, please come donate blood. We desperately need you, we really do.”
For those worried about coronavirus, Cressman says, they haven’t seen any cases among staff or donors. She says staff are equipped with PPE, including masks and gloves, and centers have increased time between donors to allow for social distancing.
To schedule an appointment or for more information visit Miller-Keystone’s website, Giveapint.org.