BLOOD DONOR NEED AT CRITICAL STAGE SOUTHLAND HAS TYPE O SHORTAGE.Byline: Carol Rock Staff Writer VALENCIA - The American Red Cross American Red Cross: see Red Cross. prides itself on being there when a disaster occurs. Now the organization is experiencing its own disaster and needs help. An urgent appeal for blood donations was issued Thursday because supplies in Los Angeles Los Angeles (lôs ăn`jələs, lŏs, ăn`jəlēz'), city (1990 pop. 3,485,398), seat of Los Angeles co., S Calif.; inc. 1850. and Orange counties are extremely low. ``All the Southern California Southern California, also colloquially known as SoCal, is the southern portion of the U.S. state of California. Centered on the cities of Los Angeles and San Diego, Southern California is home to nearly 24 million people and is the nation's second most populated region, regions, which go from Ventura County to San Diego San Diego (săn dēā`gō), city (1990 pop. 1,110,549), seat of San Diego co., S Calif., on San Diego Bay; inc. 1850. San Diego includes the unincorporated communities of La Jolla and Spring Valley. Coronado is across the bay. , as of today, have no O-positive or O-negative units,'' said Hector Calderon of the Southern California Blood Services unit. ``The blood center here in Los Angeles is the biggest in the region and we're out,'' he said. ``We're encouraging everyone to donate if they can.'' Calderon said blood donations traditionally are low around the holidays because people are busy and preoccupied with other issues. He added that the recent flu epidemic also reduced the number of volunteer donors. ``In December 2002, we were able to collect 23,463 whole blood units, but in December 2003 we only collected 22,402 units, 1,061 less than the year before,'' he said. ``With the combination of the flu and the holiday season, it was horrible.'' Other Red Cross blood centers are sending approximately 40 percent of the blood the Red Cross provides to Southern California hospital patients. According to according to prep. 1. As stated or indicated by; on the authority of: according to historians. 2. In keeping with: according to instructions. 3. the American Association American Association refers to one of the following professional baseball leagues:
The Red Cross is unable to fully stock hospitals and is distributing blood to meet immediate critical needs. Southern California hospitals have been asked to cooperate in the transfer of blood according to greatest need. ``We are not canceling elective surgeries, but in response to the Red Cross situation, we are putting staff on alert to make sure we have reserve,'' said Cindy Martin, blood bank supervisor at Henry Mayo Newhall Memorial Hospital. ``They will release units for emergency purposes; we are a trauma center trauma center n. A medical facility that is designated to treat severe physical trauma as a result of the specialized training of its staff and the availability of appropriate diagnostic and treatment tools. , so if there is a trauma, we would have enough on hand.'' Hospital officials are organizing an emergency blood drive to address the shortage. The blood drive is scheduled from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesday at the hospital. To make an appointment to donate blood, call (661) 253-8060. ``The benefit of donating at the hospital is that the Red Cross turns those units around right away and gives them back to the hospital,'' Martin said. ``Whatever donations are made there are tested and come back to this community.'' There are several blood drives scheduled in the next two weeks to help alleviate the crisis. At the American Red Cross office at 23152 1/2 Valencia Blvd., Valencia, there will be a blood drive from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday and from 2 p.m. to 8 p.m. Thursday. In Palmdale, there are three drives scheduled: From 1 p.m. to 7 p.m. Monday and Tuesday, blood donations may be made at the Antelope Valley This article is about the Los Angeles County region. For the census-designated place in Wyoming, see Antelope Valley-Crestview, Wyoming. The Antelope Valley Community Center at 2715 E. Ave. P, Palmdale; from 2 p.m. to 8 p.m. Thursday, at the Church of Jesus Christ Church of Jesus Christ may refer to:
To give blood, donors must be age 17 or older, weigh at least 110 pounds, be in good health and not at risk for HIV/AIDS HIV/AIDS Human Immunodeficiency Virus/Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome . To donate to any of the above drives or to make a donation at a future drive, call for an appointment: (800) GIVE LIFE. To sponsor a blood drive, call (800) 491-2113. Carol Rock, (661) 257-5252 carol.rock(at)dailynews.com WHERE TO DONATE BLOOD The Daily News will host a blood drive from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Thursday at its Valencia office, 24800 Avenue Rockefeller. Donors of all blood types are needed; in the Southern California area the need is critical for both 0-positive and 0-negative blood. Appointments are available; call (818) 374-9058 and request the Daily News drive. Walk-up donors will be welcomed on a space-available basis. CAPTION(S): 2 photos, box Photo: (1 -- color) Empty blood containers are stacked at the American Red Cross office in Santa Clarita Santa Clarita, city (1990 pop. 110,642), Los Angeles co., S Calif., suburb 30 mi (48 km) NW of downtown Los Angeles, on the Santa Clara River; inc. 1987. Situated in the Santa Clara valley and nearby canyons, Santa Clarita includes the former towns of Canyon Country, . The relief society has a critical shortage of O-positive and O-negative blood in Southern California. (2) Brian Lennox Brian Lennox may refer to:
David R. Crane/Staff Photographer Box: WHERE TO DONATE BLOOD (see text) |
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