Blood Needed This Flu Season: Donate Blood Near Rancho Bernardo

SAN DIEGO — It's flu season. As flu activity picks up this fall, the American Red Cross is asking healthy people of all blood types to give blood or platelets to ensure a strong blood supply for patients in need in San Diego County.

Donors must feel healthy and well on the day of donation. There is no waiting period to give blood or platelets after receiving a flu shot as long as the donor is fever- and symptom-free, according to the Red Cross.

There are many opportunities for people to donate blood or platelets in the county. Below are the dates, times and locations of planned blood drives through mid-November.

Upcoming blood drives in San Diego County

Carlsbad

• 11/10/2019: 8 a.m. - 2 p.m., New Song Community Church, 3780 Pio Pico Drive
• 11/11/2019: 8 a.m. - 2 p.m., Army and Navy Academy, 2605 Carlsbad Blvd.

Carmel Valley

• 11/14/2019: 8 a.m. - 2 p.m., Torrey Pines High School, 3710 Del Mar Heights Road

Chula Vista

• 11/5/2019: 7:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m., Chula Vista High School, 820 4th Ave.

Encinitas

• 11/5/2019: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m., Encinitas Library, 540 Cornish Drive

Escondido

• 11/7/2019: 2 p.m. - 7 p.m., Escondido East Valley Community Center, 2245 East Valley Parkway

Fallbrook

• 11/5/2019: 9:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m., Fallbrook Library, 124 South Mission Road

La Jolla

• 11/7/2019: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m., University California San Diego Library Walk, 9500 Gilman Drive
• 11/8/2019: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m., University California San Diego Library Walk, 9500 Gilman Drive
• 11/12/2019: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m., University California San Diego Library Walk, 9500 Gilman Drive
• 11/15/2019: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m., University California San Diego Library Walk, 9500 Gilman Drive

Oceanside

• 11/11/2019: 1 p.m. - 7 p.m., Oceanside Masonic Center, 511 Eucalyptus
• 11/14/2019: 2 p.m. - 7 p.m., Oceanside Masonic Center, 511 Eucalyptus

San Diego

• 11/4/2019: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m., Vividion Therapeutics, 5820 Nancy Ridge Drive
• 11/4/2019: 12:15 p.m. - 7:30 p.m., Kearny Mesa Blood Donation Center, 4229 Ponderosa Ave., Suite C
• 11/5/2019: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m., San Diego Police Department, 1401 Broadway St.
• 11/5/2019: 12:15 p.m. - 7:15 p.m., Kearny Mesa Blood Donation Center, 4229 Ponderosa Ave., Suite C
• 11/6/2019: 12:15 p.m. - 7:15 p.m., Kearny Mesa Blood Donation Center, 4229 Ponderosa Ave., Suite C
• 11/7/2019: 10:45 a.m. - 6 p.m., Kearny Mesa Blood Donation Center, 4229 Ponderosa Ave., Suite C
• 11/8/2019: 8:15 a.m. - 3:15 p.m., Kearny Mesa Blood Donation Center, 4229 Ponderosa Ave., Suite C
• 11/9/2019: 7:45 a.m. - 3 p.m., Kearny Mesa Blood Donation Center, 4229 Ponderosa Ave., Suite C
• 11/9/2019: 9 a.m. - 3 p.m., Vons, 7895 Highland Village Place
• 11/10/2019: 7:45 a.m. - 2:45 p.m., Kearny Mesa Blood Donation Center, 4229 Ponderosa Ave., Suite C
• 11/11/2019: 9 a.m. - 3 p.m., Scripps, 8925 Rehco Road
• 11/11/2019: 12:15 p.m. - 7:30 p.m., Kearny Mesa Blood Donation Center, 4229 Ponderosa Ave., Suite C
• 11/12/2019: 9 a.m. - 3 p.m., University Center, 5998 Alcala Park
• 11/12/2019: 12:15 p.m. - 7:15 p.m., Kearny Mesa Blood Donation Center, 4229 Ponderosa Ave., Suite C
• 11/13/2019: 8:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m., Westview High School, 13500 Camino Del Sur
• 11/13/2019: 9 a.m. - 3 p.m., Miramar College - Student Affairs Building, 10440 Black Mountain Road
• 11/13/2019: 12:15 p.m. - 7:15 p.m., Kearny Mesa Blood Donation Center, 4229 Ponderosa Ave., Suite C
• 11/14/2019: 10:45 a.m. - 6 p.m., Kearny Mesa Blood Donation Center, 4229 Ponderosa Ave., Suite C
• 11/15/2019: 8:15 a.m. - 3:15 p.m., Kearny Mesa Blood Donation Center, 4229 Ponderosa Ave., Suite C

San Marcos

• 11/4/2019: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m., California State University San Marcos Kellogg Plaza, 333 S Twin Oaks Valley Road
• 11/6/2019: 8:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m., High Tech High, 1420 W San Marcos Blvd.
• 11/10/2019: 8 a.m. - 2 p.m., Rock Church, 1370 W San Marcos Blvd.
• 11/14/2019: 12 p.m. - 6 p.m., University of St Augustine for Health Sciences, 700 Windy Point Drive

Santee

• 11/4/2019: 2 p.m. - 7 p.m., Santee United Methodist Church, 8964 Magnolia Ave.
• 11/6/2019: 11:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m., San Diego Christian College, 200 Riverview Parkway

Vista

• 11/12/2019: 12 p.m. - 6 p.m., Avalon, 701 Breeze Hill Road

What to know about giving blood

Interested in donating? Download the American Red Cross Blood Donor App, visit redcrossblood.org or call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) for more information or to make an appointment.

A blood donor card or driver's license or two other forms of identification are required at check-in.

Individuals who are 17 years of age in most states (16 with parental consent where allowed by state law), weigh at least 110 pounds and are in generally good health may be eligible to donate blood. High school students and other donors 18 years of age and younger also have to meet certain height and weight requirements.

Blood and platelet donors can save time at their next donation by using RapidPass to complete their pre-donation reading and health history questionnaire online, on the day of their donation, before arriving at the blood drive. To get started and learn more, visit redcrossblood.org/RapidPass or use the Blood Donor App.