Thomas Fire Shuts Down Multiple Blood Drives

Source: United Blood Services

The Thomas Fire has caused significant disruption to United Blood Services operations in Ventura and Santa Barbara County this week. The ability to secure adequate blood donations in these areas will likely be an impacting factor for several days and possibly the weeks ahead.

Donor centers in Ventura and Santa Barbara have been affected due to poor air quality and intermittent electricity. In addition to these donor center issues, a number of blood drives in the area have been canceled. The safety of our staff and donors remain our number one priority as we evaluate on a daily basis which blood drives will and which will not proceed in the current circumstances. We will also continue to monitor the situation relative to our center operations. Our teams have done an amazing job responding to this situation, working with our hospital customers and working through logistic contingencies to ensure that patient needs continue to be met without interruption in the area.

There is an immediate need to replenish the blood supply and United Blood Services is asking donors in San Luis Obispo and Santa Maria to make an appointment to give blood in the coming days. Blood donors help patients in cancer treatment, organ recipients, burn victims, and those with traumatic injuries. Donors can schedule their donation now at 805-543-4290 x “0” or by visiting www.blood4life.org.

Donor Center Locations

• 4119 Broad Street, STE 100, San Luis Obispo, CA 93401
• 1770 S Broadway, Santa Maria, CA 93454

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.