Center Asks Public to Donate Blood
The county’s largest blood donation center is asking county residents to give blood to supplement lagging supplies caused by the outbreak of flu in the county, officials said.
Officials at United Blood Services routinely screen out 15% of potential donors because they are sick with the flu, cold or other mild illnesses, said spokesman Carolyn Tyner.
But in the past four days, the deferral rate more than doubled to 31%, mainly due to the flu, she said. That has created a deficit of at least 257 pints of blood in the facility’s bank, she said.
“We turn to the community for help every year at this time,” she said. “Because that’s when flu season hits.”
United Blood Services has centers in Thousand Oaks, Simi Valley and Ventura with mobile units available in Camarillo, Moorpark, Ojai, Oxnard, Fillmore and Point Mugu.
To donate blood or for more information, call 654-8104.
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