Edhat StaffSource: United Blood Services
Approaching Labor Day weekend, the Central Coast-area blood supply is currently more than 150 units below the ideal level. To meet patient needs, United Blood Services encourages residents to donate blood if possible between now through September 5.
Demand from hospitals is anticipated to rise at its highest level this summer during Labor Day weekend due to a variety of reasons such as increased travel leading to a higher rate of traumatic injuries. All blood types are needed, but O negative blood type is currently in highest demand. As the universal blood type, O negative blood type can help any patient, especially during emergency situations when blood must be available quickly to save lives.
“We need to collect over 2,500 pints of blood before September 5 in order to ensure a steady and ample supply,” explains Sergio Coppa, spokesman for United Blood Services. “Labor Day marks the last big summer weekend for the blood center, when donations unfortunately decrease. We simply need more donors to give. In order to help save lives we must have blood on the shelves when the hospitals need it. That means 170 people must roll-up their sleeves for us each day and make a blood donation, regardless of the season. We’re asking you to give in the next ten days; we can’t do it without you.”
Donors can schedule their donation now at 805-543-4290 x “0” or by visiting www.blood4life.org.
Donor Center Locations
- 2223 Eastman Ave, STE A, Ventura, CA 93003
- 4213 State Street, Santa Barbara, CA 93110
- 1770 S Broadway, Santa Maria, CA 93454
- 4119 Broad Street, STE 100, San Luis Obispo, CA 93401
Volunteer blood donors must be at least 16 years old, weigh a minimum of 110 pounds and be in good health. Additional height/weight requirements apply to donors 22 and younger, and donors ages 16 – 17 must have signed permission from a parent or guardian. For more information, visit unitedbloodservices.org.
United Blood Services has been this area’s nonprofit community blood provider since 1949, and serves patients in hospitals along the Central Coast of California. It is a Blood Systems blood center. Blood Systems is one of the nation’s oldest and largest nonprofit community blood service providers, currently serving more than 1,000 hospital and healthcare partners across 28 states to provide comprehensive transfusion medicine services for patients in need.
