Desert Blood Services will conduct a community blood drive in Yucca Valley Wednesday, August 8. Blood donations will be taken at Vons, from 2 to 6 p.m. Local hospitals are experiencing critcially low supplies of type O-negative blood. O-negative is the “universal donor” for red cells and is needed for emergency transfusions when there is not time to determine a patient’s blood type. Healthy individuals at least 15 years old may donate blood. All prospective donors should be free of infections or illness, weigh at least 110 pounds, and not be at risk for AIDS or hepatitis. Donors receive a free mini-physical as part of the donation process. Donating blood takes about an hour, yet gives someone a lifetime. To make an appointment to donate blood, call 877-827-4376.
