American Red Cross Blood Services Supports the Blood Needs of Southern California

The American Red Cross Blood Services national system continues to aid southern California with shipments of blood products into the area from across the United States to help stabilize the local blood supply. Blood drives in southern California have been curtailed due to the wildfire situation, and as a result, donations from residents in the area are limited.

The American Red Cross nationally has provided nearly 2,000 blood products to date to support the efforts of the Southern California Blood Region. Patients suffering from burns often need transfusions of plasma and platelets and the American Red Cross, along with other blood collection agencies, are providing for this need. In addition, shipments of red cells are being sent to the area to help meet the ongoing needs of patients at local hospitals and transfusion centers until the wildfire situation is resolved.

At this time, the American Red Cross is able to meet the requirements of its Southern California Region. However, there may be an increase in demand for blood over the next few weeks as area hospitals which cancelled elective surgeries due to the fires reschedule these procedures. In order to help keep the southern California blood supply at an adequate level, and to ensure your local community blood supply is stable, it is important for eligible donors to make appointments to donate blood over the next several weeks.

Anyone 17 years of age or older, weighing 110 pounds or more and feeling in good health may be eligible to donate blood. Please call the American Red Cross at 1-800-GIVE-LIFE (800-448-3543) or visit www.givelife.org to schedule your appointment. For information about blood donations in Spanish, please visit www.cruzrojaamericana.org.

The American Red Cross provides nearly half of the nation’s blood supply (collecting more than 6 million units a year from volunteer donors) to patients in 3,000 hospitals across the country through its national network. Every two seconds, someone in America needs blood. The Red Cross must collect blood donations each and every day to meet the needs of accident victims, cancer patients and children with blood disorders, and the organization works to accomplish this through its 36 Blood Services regions. Please call today to make your appointment to give the gift of life. Call 1-800-GIVE-LIFE to schedule your donation or to sponsor a blood drive.