Patient well-being is now at stake as the LifeStream Blood Bank inventory drops to less than one-day supply, forcing Southern California hospitals to cancel surgeries. Ernest Figueroa has more information…
The community blood supply is at critically low levels, putting cancer and surgical patients, accident victims, and newborn babies at imminent risk of procedures being canceled due to lack of blood.
“The situation is critical,” said Rick Axelrod, MD, LifeStream’s president, “We are extremely low on all blood types, we can’t even send one unit of O positive to each of the more than 80 hospitals we serve. 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.”
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 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.
LifeStream will hold a community blood drive on Thursday, March 25, at the Hi-Desert Star in Yucca Valley, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Donors will receive incentives. In addition, LifeStream now offers donors free cholesterol screening with every blood donation. All prospective donors should be free of infections or illness, weigh at least 110 pounds, and not be at risk for AIDS or hepatitis. All donors must wear a mask and submit to a COVID-19 screening. To make an appointment to donate blood, call 800-TRY-GIVING.
