LifeStream Blood Bank to Host Two Coachella Valley Mobile Blood Drives
LifeStream Blood Bank to Host Two Coachella Valley Mobile Blood Drives
by Contributing Editor
As it faces a “critical” shortage of donated blood, LifeStream Blood Bank will hold two mobile blood drives Friday in the Coachella Valley.
LifeStream staff will set up at Cindy Pieper Insurance Agency at 201 E. Ramon Road in Palm Springs and Keller Williams at 47100 Washington St., Suite 101, in La Quinta. Both drives are slated from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
The nonprofit continues to face a dire shortage of blood, a shortage that LifeStream officials say puts cancer and surgical patients — along with accident victims and newborn babies — at risk of having crucial procedures canceled.
“The situation is critical,” LifeStream CEO and President Dr. Rick Axelrod said. “Surgeons can only do so much without an ample blood supply. On behalf of patients they assist, I implore the community to come forward and help.”
LifeStream is low on all blood types, but especially Group O blood — for which demand is highest. It continues to struggle to fill its blood drive calendar, which is currently booked at 50% of normal levels.
According to Axelrod, the nonprofit typically receives 25% of its annual donations via high school and college campus blood drives, all of which have been canceled through the end of the year due to COVID-19. The canceled drives, which were scheduled between September and December, equate to 7,500 pints of lost blood, Axelrod said.
During the first few weeks of the coronavirus outbreak, protective stay-at-home orders forced the cancellation of more than 80 LifeStream blood drives throughout Southern California, resulting in an additional 5,000 pints of blood effectively lost from mid-March through the end of May.
Potential donors must wear face coverings while donating, have their temperatures checked and complete a review of possible COVID-19 symptoms. They must be at least 15 years old, weigh at least 115 pounds and be free from infections or illnesses.
Donors must not be at risk of having AIDS or hepatitis, and those under 17 years old must bring written consent from a parent.
Appointments are recommended and can be made by calling 800-879-4484 or online at www.lstream.org.
>> Want to read more stories like this? Get our Free Daily Newsletters Here!
All credit goes to Contributing Editor
Originally published on https://mynewsla.com
