DKH Reminds Donors it is Safe to Give Blood

Day Kimball Healthcare (DKH) will host a community blood drive to benefit patients in need on Friday, September 4 from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. The drive will be located at Day Kimball Hospital in the Robert H. Field Conference Rooms. Donors are to enter the Hospital through the Main Entrance, Entrance A at the back of the hospital.

According to the Rhode Island Blood Center, every day patients in Southern New England need blood transfusions to recover from illness and injury. One pint from you can help save as many as three lives.

“Blood is a life-saving operational need,” said Patti Bernier, director of ancillary services, Day Kimball Hospital. “Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, blood centers throughout the country are experiencing a significant drop in donations which is limiting the ability for the nation’s blood supply to be adequately replenished. It’s important for people to know the coronavirus does not pose any known risk to blood donors during the donation process or from attending blood drives. We encourage healthy individuals to donate so that blood is available for those who need it.”

“Donors will be required to wear a mask upon entry to the hospital, and should maintain a safe distance of 6 feet around them while onsite,” said John O’Keefe, chief nursing officer and vice president of patient services, Day Kimball Healthcare. “In addition to masking and social distancing protocols, donors will be screened before building entry and should use hand sanitizer once inside.”

To learn more about the extra safety precautions implemented to keep staff, patients and donors safe visit www.daykimball.org/return-to-care and www.ribc.org/safety.

To be eligible to donate blood, you must be at least 17 years of age, weigh at least 110 pounds, and be in good health.

To schedule an appointment online, visit www.ribc.org/drives and use sponsor code 3844. Walk-ins only accepted if safe spacing permits at time of arrival.

Please do not present to donate if you have a fever or other symptoms of COVID-19, had close contact with someone diagnosed with or suspected of having COVID-19 in the last 14 days, or been diagnosed with or suspected of having COVID-19 until 14 days after your illness have resolved.

If you are unsure whether to donate, or if you have donated recently and you develop symptoms of COVID-19 or you test positive for COVID-19, please contact the Blood Center medical team via email at medicalstaff@ribc.org or 401-453-8307.

The Rhode Island Blood Center is now the sole supplier of DKH’s blood blank and provides all of its blood services. For questions about donating blood, contact the Blood Center at (401) 453-8383 or visit www.ribc.org.

To learn more about Day Kimball Healthcare’s laboratory and blood services, visit daykimball.org/lab.