Beverly Press: Donate Blood with LAPD and Cedars-Sinai
The Beverly Press and Park LaBrea News recently sat down with Veronica Bauer, recruitment coordinator for Cedars-Sinai Blood Donor Services for a story about how Los Angeles police officers are helping to shore up the health system’s blood supply.
Blood donations tend to drop off during summer months because donors are busy traveling and playing in the sun. To help boost the blood supply, three years ago, Cedars-Sinai created a friendly competition among Los Angeles Police Department station.
“For years, the LAPD has come [to the hospital] to donate blood,” Bauer told the newspaper. “I thought competitions always get people out and it’s fun to compete against each other … and that’s how the competition was born. It’s been very successful. It’s really a symbiotic relationship.”
This year, as part of the competition, the West Los Angeles Division will host a blood donation on Tuesday, Aug. 28, from noon to 6 p.m. at 1663 Butler Ave. The Pacific Division will host a blood drive on Wednesday, Aug. 29, from 2-8 p.m., at 12312 Culver Blvd. The Wilshire and West Traffic divisions, which are next door to each other at 4861 W. Venice Blvd., will host the final blood donation event on Tuesday, Sept. 4, from 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The police station that donates the most blood wins a free lunch.
Members of the public are invited to attend any of the blood drives to help their favorite police station win the competition.
“Blood drives are particularly important examples of community partnership with the LAPD,” Capt. Steven D. Lurie of the Hollywood Division told the newspaper.
Click here to read the complete story in the Beverly Press and Park LaBrea News.