Blood Donations Needed Before Memorial Day
First Summer Holiday Weekend Brings Increased Need for Blood; 1 Donation Can Save up to 3 Lives
Memorial Day marks the unofficial start of the summer fun season, and that means your blood could be a lifeline.
"Any time there’s a holiday, that means there are more cars on the road, and unfortunately, that does also mean more things like traffic accidents, which can cause people to need blood transfusions," said Armando Romero, associate director of Transfusion Medicine at Cedars-Sinai. “And summer means more people are out biking and hiking and skateboarding, which also can increase injuries and increase the need for blood.”
While blood donations are slowly rebounding to pre-pandemic levels, Romero said that historically, summer brings shortages in blood products throughout Los Angeles and across the United States. That’s why Romero is encouraging community members to donate blood at one of several blood drives being held in the Greater Los Angeles area in the coming weeks.
Every two seconds, someone in the U.S. needs blood. At Cedars-Sinai alone, more than 50,000 units of blood are needed each year to treat patients who experience physical trauma, need complex surgery or are undergoing treatments for cancer.
"Blood products have short shelf lives,” Romero said. “Red blood cells, for example, can only be stored for six weeks, and platelets have a shelf life of just five days, so donations are continually needed in order to serve the ongoing needs of a Level I trauma center like Cedars-Sinai."
Cedars-Sinai is hosting blood drives throughout the community, open to anyone who is eligible to donate blood:
Friday, May 26
9 a.m.–3 p.m.
Costco
520 N. Lone Hill Ave.
San Dimas, CA 91773
Sunday, May 28
9 a.m.–3 p.m.
Iglesia Adventista Del Séptimo Día Hispana
5320 W. Adams Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90016
Friday, June 2
9 a.m.–3 p.m.
Earl’s Donuts
20429 Devonshire St.
Chatsworth, CA 91311
Wednesday, June 14 - WORLD BLOOD DONOR DAY
10 a.m.–4 p.m.
The Original Farmer’s Market
6333 W. 33rd St.
Los Angeles, CA 90036
Thursday, June 15
10 a.m.–4 p.m.
The Original Farmer’s Market
6333 W. 33rd St.
Los Angeles, CA 90036
Friday, June 23
9 a.m.–3 p.m.
Brentwood Plaza Pharmacy
11980 San Vicente Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90049
Sunday, June 25
9:30 a.m.–3:30 p.m.
Hermosa Beach Community Center
710 Pier Ave.
Hermosa Beach, CA 90254
Monday, June 26
1–7 p.m.
Westchester Elks Lodge
8025 W. Manchester Ave.
Playa del Rey, CA 90293
Prospective donors can also schedule an appointment to donate blood at Cedars-Sinai by visiting donatebloodcedars.org or calling the Blood Donor Services team at (310) 423-4170.
Read more on the Cedars-Sinai Blog: This Blood Donor Has Likely Saved Hundreds of Lives