Getting ready for crisis proactively is a main part of the bank’s protocol.
Complete work automation, precise precautionary procedures and complete sterilization after each donor.
In Hospital 57357 they don’t wait for a crisis to happen to start confronting it, They work according to protocols and proactive plans that take into consideration all circumstances and possibilities since the start, aiming to avoid the effects of any crisis they may face and identifying the best solutions to face it.
Since the beginning, 57357’s blood bank is operating according to scientific standards to guaranty the blood safety using latest equipment and applying accurate precautionary measures. The evidence-based protocol we adopted since the inception of the blood bank includes proactive plans to confront any emergency or crisis before it happens to guaranty securing performance level and covering patients’ needs in all circumstances. The most important thing is the keeping of a large database of regular blood donors along with the Hospital staff who have been the backbone of the blood bank during the Corona virus crisis.
According to Dr. Adel Ragab, head of 57357’s blood bank department, the Hospital completed automating the entire equipment arsenal where the last addition was a device that detects blood transmitted viruses. This complete automation guaranties transferring blood safely quickly and accurately starting by testing for the blood type, compatibility and viruses and following up on any of the blood components during or after dispensing.
Within the framework of crisis management standard guidelines , Dr. Ragab reveals that the bank applied all proactive precautionary procedures and plans since the outbreak of the Corona virus pandemic, and before it even appeared in Egypt, aiming to ensure covering the needs of safe blood for patients along with guarantying the safety of donors and team work. The most important of these procedures is sterilizing the place completely after each donor and the compliance of all blood bank workers to wearing masks in addition to the glass face shield and medical gloves and changing masks and gloves and sterilizing the face shield after each donor.
Dr. Ragab added that work shifts have been organized during the partial lock down among staff to guaranty the continuity of work effectively on a daily basis.
In addition to the usual questions about the donor’s health condition and his medical history, the donor is asked about any sickness symptoms that might have appeared during the elapsed month, as there would always be a possibility of infection with Corona with mild symptoms. In case of any suspicion they perform a test for corona anti-bodies and if it is positive the donor is asked to donate plasma to contribute to saving the life of another Corona virus patient.
“Up till now researchers have no indication of the possibility of transmitting infection by blood, but we take all precautions to guaranty the safety of the donor and staff just as the safety of patients, affirms Dr. Ragab
The blood bank manager is inviting healthy charitable people to join our database of regular donors. “Those regular donors together with the Hospital staff are the main people we depend on during the peak of the crisis and the lock down, and we still rely on them until now, and they, in turn, are always ready to donate their blood, added Dr. Ragab.
He affirms that blood donation is good for renewing blood cells, reminding us of the donation conditions: to be between 18 and 65 in age, having no chronic diseases, free of liver diseases and cancer, and he or she should not have treated their teeth during the elapsed 21 days before the donation.