Red Cross Blood Supply At Critically Low Levels, IE Donors Sought

The following is a Jan. 8, 2024, news release from the American Red Cross:

INLAND EMPIRE, CA — The American Red Cross is experiencing an emergency blood shortage as the nation faces the lowest number of people giving blood in 20 years.

The Red Cross blood supply has fallen to critically low levels across the country, and blood and platelet donors are urged to make a donation appointment to help alleviate the shortage and help ensure lifesaving medical procedures are not put on hold.

Over the last 20 years, the number of people donating blood to the Red Cross has fallen by about 40%. When fewer people donate blood, even small disruptions to blood donations — such as the nearly 7,000-unit shortfall in blood donations the Red Cross experienced between Christmas and New Year’s Day alone — can have a huge impact on the availability of blood products and dramatic consequences for those in need of emergency blood transfusion. Blood products are currently going to hospitals faster than blood donations are coming in, and in recent weeks, the Red Cross has had to limit distributions of type O blood products — among the most transfused blood types — to hospitals.

“Small changes in blood donor turnout can have a huge impact on the availability of blood products and dramatic consequences for those in need of an emergency blood transfusion,” said Dr. Eric Gehrie, executive physician director for the Red Cross. “More challenges may lie ahead as the potential for severe winter weather and seasonal illness may compound the dire blood supply situation. Donors of all types — especially those with type O blood and those giving platelets — are urged to give now.”

Don’t wait — to make an appointment, download the Red Cross Blood Donor App, visit RedCrossBlood.org or call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767).

The Red Cross and the National Football League (NFL) are partnering this January, during National Blood Donor Month, to urge individuals to give blood or platelets and help tackle the emergency blood shortage. Those who come to give blood, platelets or plasma in January will automatically be entered for a chance to win a trip for two to Super Bowl LVIII in Las Vegas. For details, visit RedCrossBlood.org/Super Bowl.

Upcoming blood donation opportunities through Jan. 31:

Riverside County:

Corona

• 1/14/2024: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m., Corona Regional Medical Center, 800 S Main Street
• 1/28/2024: 8 a.m. - 3 p.m., Corpus Christi Roman Catholic Church, 3760 McKinley Street

Eastvale

• 1/19/2024: 11 a.m. - 5 p.m., Homecoming at Eastvale, 5464 W Homecoming Circle

Hemet

• 1/30/2024: 1 p.m. - 7 p.m., Community Christian Church, 41762 Stetson Ave

Lake Elsinore

• 1/12/2024: 8:30 a.m. - 6:30 p.m., Temescal Canyon High School -Small Gym- Double Shift, 28755 El Toro Rd
• 1/22/2024: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m., Elsinore First Assembly, 19740 Grand Ave
• 1/31/2024: 9:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m., Lake Elsinore Cultural Center, 183 North Main

Moreno Valley

• 1/17/2024: 9 a.m. - 3 p.m., Moreno Valley Sheriff Station, 22850 Calle San Juan de Los Lagos

Murrieta

• 1/12/2024: 10:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m., Rancho Springs Hospital, 25520 Medical Dr
• 1/19/2024: 10:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m., Rancho Springs Hospital, 25520 Medical Dr

Perris

• 1/16/2024: 8:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m., Val Verde High School, 972 Morgan Street

Riverside

• 1/24/2024: 8 a.m. - 7 p.m., Platt College, 6465 Sycamore Canyon Blvd
• 1/27/2024: 8 a.m. - 2 p.m., American Red Cross Riverside Chapter, 6235 Rivercrest Drive Suite A

Sun City

• 1/19/2024: 11 a.m. - 5 p.m., St Vincent Ferrer Church, 27931 Murrieta Rd

Temecula

• 1/14/2024: 9 a.m. - 3:30 p.m., Starbucks, 29588 Rancho California Road Ste. K-13
• 1/15/2024: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m., Calvary Chapel Bible Fellowship, 34180 Rancho California Rd
• 1/17/2024: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m., City of Temecula, 41000 Main Street
• 1/21/2024: 9:30 a.m. - 4 p.m., Walmart, 32225 Hwy 79 South
• 1/26/2024: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m., Temecula Valley Hospital, 31700 Temecula Parkway

San Bernardino County

Chino

• 1/11/2024: 1 p.m. - 7 p.m., Homecoming at The Preserve, 16250 Homecoming Dr

Chino Hills

• 1/24/2024: 1 p.m. - 7 p.m., Robert O. Townsend Jr High School, 15359 Ilex Dr

Hesperia

• 1/18/2024: 8:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m., Mojave High School, 16633 Lemon Street
• 1/23/2024: 1 p.m. - 7 p.m., The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, 10862 Maple Ave
• 1/25/2024: 11 a.m. - 5 p.m., City of Hesperia, 9650 Seventh Avenue

Loma Linda

• 1/11/2024: 9 a.m. - 3 p.m., VA Loma Linda Healthcare System, 11201 Benton St

Montclair

• 1/18/2024: 7 a.m. - 1 p.m., Montclair Hospital Medical Center, 5000 San Bernardino Street

Ontario

• 1/17/2024: 8 a.m. - 2 p.m., United Education Institute, 4730 Ontario Mills Pkwy, Bldg # 4
• 1/31/2024: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m., Kaiser Permanente, 2295 S Vineyard Ave

Rancho Cucamonga

• 1/18/2024: 1 p.m. - 7 p.m., The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, 9075 Baseline Rd
• 1/31/2024: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m., Doña Merced Elementary School, 10333 Palo Alto St

Redlands

• 1/13/2024: 8 a.m. - 2 p.m., Boys & Girls Clubs, 1251 Clay St

Upland

• 1/11/2024: 9 a.m. - 3 p.m., Cable CrossFit 5th Annual Blood Drive, 1320 N Benson Ave
• 1/16/2024: 9 a.m. - 3 p.m., Options for Youth, 1438 W Seventh St
• 1/17/2024: 11:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m., The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, 785 N. San Antonio Ave
• 1/19/2024: 11 a.m. - 5 p.m., St Marks Episcopal Church, 330 E 16th St

About the American Red Cross:
The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides comfort to victims of disasters; supplies about 40% of the nation’s blood; teaches skills that save lives; distributes international humanitarian aid; and supports veterans, military members and their families. The Red Cross is a nonprofit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to deliver its mission. For more information, please visit redcross.org or
CruzRojaAmericana.org, or follow us on social media.