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DANVILLE, Pa. – The novel coronavirus has interrupted our daily lives, including blood drives and donations across the U.S. Geisinger leadership is asking for the public’s support to address a community wide, critical blood shortage amid appointment cancellations. 

“Through this national emergency, there are still surgeries, traumas, cancer treatments and life-saving care for premature infants. Our neighbors still need blood,” said Gerald Maloney, D.O., chief medical officer of Geisinger hospitals, who was among more than 100 Geisinger employees who donated blood on March 19 at Geisinger Medical Center in Danville. “If you are looking for a way to contribute during this unprecedented time of need, consider donating blood. It takes only an hour, and it’s perfectly safe.”

Coronaviruses are not known to be transmitted through blood transfusion. Additionally, out of an abundance of caution surrounding the novel COVID-19, Miller-Keystone Blood Center is taking precautionary steps to keep donors safe. Here are a few facts to set your mind at ease about donating blood:  

  • All equipment is decontaminated between uses.  
  • Everything that touches the blood is disposable (including the blood bags, needles and test tubes).
  • Because of appointments, blood drives and donor centers are rarely crowded 
  • We expect only people feeling well to give blood, so the risk of exposure at a blood drive or donor center is exceedingly low.      
  • The need for blood to treat cancer patients, trauma victims, premature infants, surgical patients and others is constant.   
  • Blood is perishable and there is no substitute — the only source is the volunteer blood donor.   

Those who should not give blood at this time: If you are age 70 or older, take medicines that suppress the immune system, have underlying medical conditions, have traveled to one of the areas of major outbreak, have been exposed to anyone diagnosed with COVID-19 or are recovering from the virus, we ask that you continue to practice social distancing and not give blood at this time.   

For appointments, visit www.giveapint.org or call 1-800-B-A-DONOR.

About Geisinger
Geisinger is among the nation’s leading providers of value-based care, serving 1.2 million people in urban and rural communities across Pennsylvania. Founded in 1915 by philanthropist Abigail Geisinger, the nonprofit system generates $10 billion in annual revenues across 126 care sites — including 10 hospital campuses — and Geisinger Health Plan, with more than half a million members in commercial and government plans. Geisinger College of Health Sciences educates more than 5,000 medical professionals annually and conducts more than 1,400 clinical research studies. With 26,000 employees, including 1,700 employed physicians, Geisinger is among Pennsylvania’s largest employers with an estimated economic impact of $15 billion to the state’s economy. On March 31, 2024, Geisinger became the first member of Risant Health, a new nonprofit charitable organization created to expand and accelerate value-based care across the country. Learn more at geisinger.org or follow on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and X.

Feet on a blood donation bed.
Blood donations are still needed for emergency, cancer and surgery care services. Geisinger is asking the public to support upcoming blood drive events.
Bags of donated blood.
Geisinger is asking the public for support during a community wide blood shortage. Geisinger will be hosting several blood drives in the next month. 
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