The coronavirus has taken an immense toll on blood donations, and with non-essential surgeries starting back up, the demand for blood is rising quickly.
The American Red Cross saw a dramatic decrease is donors while many were confined to their homes over the last two months, but now as things start to pick up speed in the world again, the demand for blood donations has skyrocketed.
At the time of her interview with BYU-Idaho Radio on Tuesday, June 2, Angela Ragan, a representative of the Red Cross, said they needed 30% more blood than usual.
BYU-Idaho Radio · The Red Cross Needs More Blood Donors-A Conversation
Ragan, an account representative in the Recruitment Department, said though there is an increase in demand for donations, the need is always constant.
Blood donations help a wide range of people with certain medical needs, like people with childbirth complications, leukemia patients and many others.
Ragan also said staff will wear masks and gloves to help prevent the spread of COVID-19 and other germs. People who donate will be provided a facemask if they do not bring their own.
Ragan also said donating is a small sacrifice when compared to the weight of saving someone's life.
"When you donate blood, you're helping someone that you don't know what their need is, and you don't know who they are," Ragan said. "It could be your neighbor; it could be the person standing next to you in line...it could be somebody's 2-year-old [where the parents] just found out their child has leukemia and needs this life-saving treatment."
Donations at the Manwaring Center on the BYU-Idaho campus are scheduled for Friday, June 5, from 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., as well as Wednesday, June 6, Thursday, June 7 and Friday, June 8.
To schedule a time to donate, click here.