LifeStream Blood Bank to Host Two Coachella Valley Mobile Blood Drives Saturday
LifeStream Blood Bank to Host Two Coachella Valley Mobile Blood Drives Saturday
by Contributing Editor
Potential donors will have a chance to give blood at the Palm Springs Air Museum Saturday and participants will also be screened for COVID-19 antibodies.
LifeStream Blood Bank, which says it is facing a “critical” shortage of donated blood, will host the event Saturday at 745 N. Gene Autry Trail, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
The nonprofit continues to face a dire shortage of blood that LifeStream officials say puts cancer and surgical patients — along with accident victims and newborn babies — at risk of having crucial procedures canceled.
“The blood supply for hospitals remains critical,” LifeStream CEO and President Dr. Rick Axelrod said earlier this week, “and if we don’t increase the numbers of blood donors at blood drives and our donor centers, we predict hospitals will be required to cancel elective surgeries as we approach the holiday season.”
LifeStream continues to face a shortage of all blood types, but especially Group O blood — for which demand is highest.
The nonprofit has generally struggled to fill its blood drive calendar amid the coronavirus pandemic, although it has increased its bookings for mobile drives in recent weeks.
However, officials are still asking for Riverside County residents to assist LifeStream by booking mobile drives at regional work places, schools or churches in order to boast the nonprofit’s dwindling supplies.
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
