Red Cross Gears Up to Offset Blood Shortage

The American Red Cross this week said that Southland hospitals are reporting a shortage of blood supplies, due in part to a normal decline in donations during the holidays but also because many would-be donors have fallen victim to the flu season.

All types of blood are needed, but Type O negative is particularly in demand. O negative blood can be administered to anyone, regardless of their blood type, and supplies are quickly depleted in hospital emergency rooms, said Andrew Foster, director of community relations for Red Cross Blood Services.

Blood donated to the Red Cross is distributed to hospitals and stored at blood depots throughout the county. A person can donate one unit of blood every 56 days.

Potential donors should expect their visit to a donation site to last more than an hour. A brief, confidential medical history is taken by an authorized nurse to ensure the donor’s health. Red Cross standards require all donors to be at least 17 years old, weigh at least 110 pounds and be in generally good health. They will be offered juice and cookies after giving blood, and issued a card identifying them as a donor, Foster said.

Some area hospitals also are accepting blood donations. Weight requirements vary, and some ask potential donors to make an appointment. For more information on donating blood, call one of the following sites:

Long Beach--American Red Cross, 3150 E. 29th St., (310) 784-7650. Hours: 12:15 to 7 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday, 8:30 a.m. to 3:15 p.m. Friday and 8:30 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. Saturday.

St. Mary Medical Center, Blood Donor Center, 432 E. 10th St., (310) 491-9035. Hours: 10 a.m. to 5:15 p.m. Monday, Wednesday and Thursday; 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday, 7 a.m. to 2:45 p.m. Friday. For couples preparing to get married, a physician will sign a health certificate for a unit of blood from each of them.

Long Beach Memorial Medical Center, 2801 Atlantic Ave., (310) 595-3411. Hours: 8 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 7 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Friday.

Downey--Kaiser Permanente Blood Donor Center, 9449 E. Imperial Highway, (310) 803-2800. Hours: 8:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday, Tuesday and Thursday, 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday.

Whittier--Presbyterian Intercommunity Hospital, 12401 E. Washington Blvd., (310) 698-0811 Ext. 2254. Hours: 7:20 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday, Tuesday and Thursday, 7:20 a.m. to 4:20 p.m. Wednesday, 7:20 a.m. to 2 p.m. Friday. Call for an appointment.

Los Angeles--Martin Luther King Jr./Charles R. Drew Medical Center, 12021 S. Wilmington Ave., (310) 603-4253. Hours: 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily. The blood donation center is in the Augustus F. Hawkins Building, Room 3001.

South Gate--Red Cross office, 9200 State St., (213) 564-5721. A bloodmobile will take donations from 2:45 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Friday.

Downey--Apollo Park, 12458 Rives Ave. A bloodmobile will take donations from 2:15 p.m. to 7 p.m. today.