The need for blood donations is as great as ever and OneBlood is looking for donation locations

The need for blood donations is always great, but, add a pandemic to the equation and a lack of locations to send the Big Red Bus and things become more difficult very quickly.

OneBlood recently spoke with our news partner WFTV Channel 9 Eyewitness News; “We still are not able to go to all the locations we used to go to for blood drives almost a year now into the pandemic” said OneBlood’s Susan Forbes.

The regular spots, high schools, colleges, and Universities are not able to offer services and they traditionally contribute about 20 percent of the blood supply.

Also adding to the frustration is the fact that so many people are working from home so sending the bus to a large employer is also not an option.

“So we have to find other locations to go to.” said Forbes “we can roll the Big Red Bus up to any location.”

We checked the OneBlood schedule, right now you can make an appointment to donate at a Donor Center or look for the bus at retail locations, but you are encouraged to still make an appointment. Click here to see what is available.

You will also have to wear a mask and MUST be COVID-19 symptom-free for at least 14 days.

The good news is there is no waiting period for anyone who has received either the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine.

For anyone who has recovered from the coronavirus, there is also a need for convalescent plasma donations to help others survive.

The process takes about 40 minutes but, here too, you must be symptom-free for at least 14-days.

Click here for more information on donating plasma.

Cox Media Group