Vitalant is committed to continuously updating our practices and procedures to ensure we are providing the safest environment possible for our donors, coordinators and staff during this challenging time. Please be aware that all donors will be required to wear a face covering or mask at Vitalant blood drives and donation centers.
In alignment with updated CDC guidelines, effective Friday, April 17, donors are required to wear face coverings to their donation. Vitalant staff are also required
to wear masks/face coverings and blood drive coordinators must do the same.
In alignment with updated CDC guidelines, effective Friday, April 17, donors are required to wear face coverings to their donation. Vitalant staff are also required
to wear masks/face coverings and blood drive coordinators must do the same.
- Donors/coordinators can wear their own homemade mask or face covering, provided the cloth or homemade mask covers both their nose and mouth in alignment with updated CDC guidelines.
- If a donor is unable to wear a covering or mask, we ask that they postpone their donation to a later date. We will need their donation in the coming weeks and months.
- Since this is an immediate change to the typical donation process, please communicate the mask/face covering requirement to scheduled donors. For upcoming blood drives you are still promoting, please add the mask requirement information to your blood drive outreach and marketing materials so donors come prepared in addition to the updated mask requirements, you will see Vitalant take the following steps to support donor safety at your next blood drive:
- We are taking donors’ temperatures at check-in; those with temperatures higher than 99.5 are not allowed to donate or remain at the site.
- We are setting up larger waiting areas with chairs 6 feet apart and providing individually-packaged snacks and beverages.
- We are limiting the number of people in the waiting areas to adhere to physical distancing guidelines.
- We are inviting donors to wait for their appointments in their cars or other comfortable and convenient locations. Donors have the option to receive a phone call or text notification when it is time to donate.
- Staff are maintaining hygienic practices, including but not limited to: wearing masks or cloth-based face coverings; wearing gloves and changing/sanitizing them between donors; washing their hands before and after any donor contact; and wiping down donor-touched and other high-touch areas often and after every collection.
