A day after the American Red Cross Southern California issued a red alert advising the public that the blood supply is in critical condition, Henry Mayo Newhall Memorial Hospital is responding to the need by hosting an emergency blood drive..
The Emergency Blood Drive will take place Friday, Jan. 7, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and will take place in the Café Annex of the Main Hospital Building. Anyone interested in donating should call (661) 253-8060 to schedule an appointment. Walk-ins will also be accepted.
The fast turnaround from Henry Mayo comes after an alert Monday issued by the American Red Cross Blood Services Region warning the public that the local supply of type O negative blood has reached alarming levels and that all blood types are desperately needed.
“The American Red Cross has issued an appeal to help boost the blood supply moving forward and we are happy to do whatever we can to help them through this crisis,” said Roger Der, assistant director of Laboratory and Pathology Services at Henry Mayo.
Red Cross officials cite that blood donations in Southern California are 25 percent less than what is needed to maintain a stable blood supply.
“It is typical for low donor turnout during the holiday and winter months,” said Ethel Rubio, with Donor Resources Development for the American Red Cross. “But now, in the Southern California region, there is less than a two hour supply of type O-negative blood, and a severe shortage of type O-positive and B-negative blood.”
The American Red Cross and Henry Mayo encourages all eligible donors to give and made a special appeal for O negative blood donors, who are called “universal donors” because their red blood cells can be transfused to people of all blood types.
Besides the satisfaction of knowing that they are helping to saves lives of friends, neighbors and others, all donors will receive a coupon for a free appetizer at Pick-Up Stix and a red wrist band commemorating volunteer blood donor month.
In addition to this drive, the hospital will continue with a blood drives already scheduled for the remainder of the year including January 27 and March 29.
For more information or to schedule an appointment, call (661) 253-8060. You can also register on-line at www.henrymayo.com and look for the blood drive link under the quick links section on far left bottom portion of the homepage. |
