100 Gallons Of Blood Donated By Security Guard In Inland Empire

INLAND EMPIRE, CA — It’s hard to say how many lives Dennis Hall has saved or affected, but a rough estimate is 2,000.

Hall is not a first responder nor a medical worker. Instead, the 68-year-old San Bernardino resident’s heroism is this: he donated his 100th gallon of blood Jan. 27 at LifeStream Blood Bank. A blood donor for more than 50 years, Hall recently became the 28th donor in LifeStream’s 70-year history to reach the milestone.

Hall is a humble man of modest means. Speaking by phone Thursday, he was resting up before his nightshift security guard job.

“Social security is not what it’s made out to be,” explained Hall, who said he is semi-retired.

A long-time airport shuttle driver, Hall said the 100-gallon mark was not on his bucket list. So why does he give so much? The only person he ever knew who received his blood was his mother, and he himself has never required a transfusion.

“I feel good knowing I’m helping someone else who needs it,” Hall said. Whole blood, platelets, red cells, plasma — “I do whatever they need.”

Platelets can be donated weekly, up to 24 times a year, which Hall said he often does, but he’s been told he has to wait at least three weeks before his next donation because his iron level is too low.

“Many regular platelet donors schedule bi-weekly donations so their contributions can be counted upon virtually year-around,” said LifeStream spokesperson Don Escalante.

The “wait periods” between blood donations vary according to the respective type of donation given, Escalante continued.

“The vast majority of donations are ‘whole-blood’ donations, which may be given once every 8 weeks,” Escalante explained. “Those who donate double red cells may give once every 16 weeks.”·

People who donate plasma can give monthly, or a maximum of 12 times per year.

When Hall gives, he said his arm feels a little stiff afterward, but he attributes that to staying in one position while blood is drawn.

For first-time donors, there’s really nothing to be scared of, Hall said. “Just go and check it out. Blood bank workers are so supportive and helpful,” he explained. “Every donation is needed and appreciated.”

Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, blood donations have slipped. LifeStream has reached critically low levels, putting patients at risk.

“The situation is extremely serious,” said Rick Axelrod, MD, LifeStream’s president, CEO and medical director. “We are very, very low on all blood types; surgeons can only do so much without an ample blood supply. On behalf of patients they assist, I implore the community to come forward and help.”

Hall said that while he never had a 100-gallon goal, he’s now considering going for 200.

The number of lives affected/saved by 100 gallons in donations is purely speculative, said Escalante, but “an estimate would be about 2,000 patients.”

If you would like to donate at any one of the Inland Empire's LifeStream Blood Bank locations, click here for more information.