LifeStream Blood Bank Appeals For Blood Donations

Press release from LifeStream:

March 22, 2021

LifeStream Blood Bank is appealing to the public for blood donations. The blood supply is critically low – so low that Southern California hospitals are canceling surgeries.

“The community blood supply has been at low levels for several weeks, but we have reached the point where hospitals are canceling surgeries due to lack of blood availability,” said Rick Axelrod, MD, LifeStream’s president, CEO and medical director.

“We are a local blood bank that provides blood products and services to more than 80 hospitals in Southern California. We urge the community to come forward and help, to imagine those patients are their loved ones, friends, neighbors, and colleagues,” said Dr. Axelrod. “Because, in many cases, they are.”

“If everyone who is eligible to donate blood would donate at least three times a year, we could avoid this situation. We are asking healthy individuals to please donate blood now and become a regular donor to help keep the community blood supply at sufficient levels,” Dr. Axelrod said.

All whole-blood and double-red cell donors are tested for the presence of COVID-19 antibodies. Appointments are recommended but walk-ins are welcome at all locations.

Donors must be at least 15 years of age (15- and 16-year-olds require a signed parental consent form; the form is available at all LifeStream locations) weigh at least 115 pounds, present current photo ID, and be in good health.

To locate the nearest LifeStream collection site including convenient mobile blood drives, go to LStream.org or call 800-879-4484.

Locations and hours for LifeStream donor centers follow:

San Bernardino, 384 W. Orange Show Road: 7 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday; 6 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday; 8 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Thursday; 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday.

Riverside, 4006 Van Buren Blvd.: 7 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday; 8 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Thursday; 7 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Sunday. Ontario, 1959 E. Fourth St.: 9 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Monday; 7 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday; 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Thursday and Sunday; 7 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Saturday.

Victorville, 12520 Business Center Drive, Bldg. G: 7 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. daily except Thursday, when hours are 10:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.

La Quinta, 79-215 Corporate Centre Drive: 7 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. daily except Wednesday, when hours are 10:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Murrieta, 40365 Murrieta Hot Springs Road, 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday and Friday; 7 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Tuesday and Wednesday; 8 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Thursday; 7 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.

Rancho Mirage, 42390 Bob Hope Drive, Ste. 1B, 10:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday and Thursday; 7 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Wednesday, Friday and Saturday.

Moreno Valley, 22500 Town Circle (upper level of Moreno Valley Mall), 11 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday.

Placentia, 310 W Orangethorpe St., Ste. C, 7 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Monday, Wednesday and Sunday; 10:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday and Thursday.

All donors must wear a face covering (mask/coverings with one-way valves to filter outside air are not sufficient), submit to a temperature check and verbal COVID-19 symptom review before being admitted to the donor waiting area. LifeStream adheres to social distancing guidelines and has enhanced already strict cleaning and disinfecting protocols. For more information, call 800-879-4484.

This press release was produced by LifeStream. The views expressed here are the author's own.