Blood Bank Supply Needs Replenishing

Ventura County may soon be dangerously low on hospital blood supplies if residents do not begin to donate more blood.

United Blood Service, the county’s only blood provider, drew much less blood than normal in February because of rain and road closures and have not yet made up the difference.

“The supply is not low enough to where we have to cancel surgeries . . . but over a course of time--if this continues--it could become dangerously low and be very critical,” said Patty Hunt, director of donor recruitment.

The blood bank is down 300 units, or about a four-day supply.

“You never know when you’re going to have a trauma,” Hunt said. “And you need to have the hospital supplies up when there’s bad road conditions, so hospitals have enough stock to cover emergencies.”

United Blood Service will hold a blood drive Monday at Esplanade Shopping Center in Oxnard from 2 to 7 p.m.

United also has donation centers in Ventura, Simi Valley and Thousand Oaks.

To donate at either Monday’s blood drive or at one of the centers, call (800) 715-3699 to schedule an appointment.

Donors must be 17 to 79 years of age to donate blood and weigh at least 110 pounds.

Donors must also be in good health and show identification containing their legal name and one of the following: date of birth, Social Security number, United Blood Services-assigned donor number or photo identification.