NHHS sets blood drive on June 17

NEWPORT — On June 17, Newport Hospital and Health Services welcomes Vitalant (formerly Inland Northwest Blood Center) for an all-day blood drive from 10 a.m.-4:30 p.m.

The need for blood donors is higher than ever, and due to an extraordinary response from the community earlier this spring, the district is “calling all heroes” again to fill an incredible 48 donation appointments. The blood drive will take place in the old nursing home (formerly Long Term Care) on Scott Avenue, adjacent to Newport Community Hospital.

Donors can park in front of the building and enter through the main doors along Scott Avenue.

Vitalant is performing antibody testing for COVID-19 in addition to the normal battery of tests that are run for a donated unit of blood. After two weeks, donors can login to their donor account in E-donor to see whether the unit of blood they donated has a positive or negative result for COVID-19 antibodies. The information is confidential and will not be shared. For more information and a complete FAQ, visit: www.Vitalant.org/antibodytest.

The blood drive will be held in a large area, spread out, with only a few people will be served at a time. Everyone will be screened upon check-in, and facial masks are required. Only healthy people are encouraged to give blood. In addition to screening and social distancing, other measures are being taken for safety.

Donors must be feeling well and free of respiratory illness symptoms to be eligible to donate. Donors’ temperatures will be taken upon check-in. People who meet at-risk criteria for coronavirus infection are not eligible to donate. Vitalant staff will wear masks, gloves and personal protective gear. They wipe down donor-touched areas using a disinfectant. Staff use sterile, single-use collection sets for each donor, and they scrub the donor’s arm for 30 seconds before the collection. Staff members who don’t feel well are required to stay home.

Pre-registration appointments are required and can be made by contacting [email protected] or by registering directly with Vitalant at https://xbab.it/5e . For more information, please email Brandi Fry at the email address provided above.