MILWAUKEE -- Versiti Blood Center of Wisconsin donor centers and community blood drives across the state remain open because of the critical nature of blood donation to our country. That is despite Safer at Home directives now implemented in Wisconsin.
According to Gov. Tony Evers' executive order, individuals are allowed to leave their residence for Healthcare and Public Health Operations. This includes organizations collecting blood, platelets, plasma, and other necessary materials.
Chief Medical Officer Thomas Abshire issued the following statement in a news release:
Ensuring blood donor and staff safety
Staff at Versiti's donor centers and community blood drives are using precautions consistent with the CDC and the American Association of Blood Banks recommendations while collecting donations. These include: prescreening both staff and donors for COVID-19 symptoms, complying with social distancing throughout the donation process, beds six feet apart and/or separated by a partition, wiping down surface areas and beds, and providing only packaged snacks and drinks.
Due to the generous response from blood donors, it is best to schedule an appointment, call 1-877-BE-A-HERO or visit versiti.org/Wisconsin