Canadian Blood Services’ protocols for screening donors and cleaning our donor centres have always been extremely robust — respiratory infections are common and we are prepared. However, as information about COVID-19 quickly evolves, we are taking additional measures to enhance our protocols to better protect anyone who comes through our doors.

Enhanced cleaning measures

Canadian Blood Services is adhering to the guidance of subject matter experts, and international, federal and provincial agencies, and have increased the frequency of cleaning within our donor centres. We will continue to ensure that the products we use effectively kill viruses on a variety of surfaces.

The frequency of cleaning has been increased for all equipment and surfaces. Notably, we have enhanced our protocols for high traffic areas and resources — including donor beds, which will now be wiped down after each use, and pamphlets that will be either laminated and cleaned after each use or disposed of after a single use.

Additional wellness protocols

Even though the majority of individuals who may come into our donor centres with mild symptoms will not have COVID-19, donors, employees and volunteers will be prompted before entering our buildings to carefully evaluate whether they are feeling well. Donors will be asked to self-defer and employees and volunteers will be asked not to enter the building if they are symptomatic.

As an additional precaution, healthy individuals who enter our donor centres will be immediately asked to sanitize their hands and practice proper 20-second handwashing, coughing and sneezing etiquette. They will also be reminded to avoid touching their eyes, nose and mouth and avoid close contact with others who are not feeling well.

Individuals who enter our centres displaying symptoms will be provided with a mask and asked to leave. Additional cleaning and safety measures include:

Enhanced frequency of cleaning of all equipment and surfaces

Active wellness screening before individuals enter the building and at their first point of contact when they enter

Donor beds wiped down after each use

Donor information pamphlet laminated and wiped down after each use (or discarded after each use if lamination isn’t an option)

Donor zip lock bags (that your information and blood bags are put in) are one use

When on donation beds, donors will be at a minimum of 6 feet apart

When sitting on a waiting chair, donors will be at a minimum of 3 feet apart

We continue to assess our cleaning products to ensure they are used in accordance with PHAC recommendations for effectively killing viruses on a variety of surfaces. For example, we currently use Lysol disinfecting wipes or a bleach dilution for cleaning and are advised by a senior expert in microbiology on the proper concentration to kill viruses while ensuring the air is still safe to breathe.

Suspending pre-donation snacks in donor centres:

To further protect the health and safety of all individuals who walk through our doors, effective March 27, we are suspending the use of pre-donation salty snacks in our donor centres and mobile events. This is a responsible step to limit the risk of spread through touching the mouth with fingers directly prior to the donation process. We are implementing the following measures to ensure that donors continue to have a safe donation experience:

Donors will be reminded prior to their donation that they should eat a salty snack in addition to drinking lots of water before their arrival.

During their donation, our team will be asking donors to perform muscle tension exercises to prevent post-donation reactions.

Screening questions:

Effective May 30, 2020, two new questions have been added to our wellness screening for donors, employees, volunteers and contractors.