LifeStream Blood Bank to Host Coachella Valley Mobile Blood Drives This Week

As it continues to confront a shortage of donated blood, LifeStream Blood Bank will hold nine mobile collection drives throughout the Coachella Valley this week.

Aspiring donors can give blood on the following days:

— Tuesday at Desert Valley Builders Association, 75100 Mediterranean Ave., Palm Desert, from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.;

— Tuesday at Stater Bros., 1717 E. Vista Chino, Palm Springs, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.;

— Wednesday at Sky Valley Resort, 74711 Dillon Road, Desert Hot Springs, from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.;

— Thursday at Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 72960 Parkview Drive, Palm Desert, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.;

— Thursday at Desert Resort Management, 42635 Melanie Place, Suite 103,Palm Desert, from noon to 4 p.m.

— Thursday at Kimpton Rowan hotel, 100 W. Tahquitz Canyon Way, Palm Springs, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.;

— Friday at Caliente Springs Resort, 70200 Dillon Road, Desert Hot Springs, from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.;

— Friday at Indian Wells Golf Resort, 44500 Indian Wells Lane, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.; and

— Saturday at Palm Springs Air Museum, 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 Monday, “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.

Officials are putting out a call 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!

from RSSMix.com Mix ID 8291208 https://ift.tt/2HTss6m