Recent trends in donations have local United Blood Services officials concerned about the health of the local blood supply.
Fallout from a down economy—such as layoffs and a cloudy business climate—have forced several businesses to cancel or postpone scheduling blood drives for the month of March.
“Based on trends for scheduled drives in March and April, we are definitely seeing an impact on the local blood supply,” said Scott Edwards, a media representative and blood drive recruiter for Tri-Counties Blood Bank in San Luis Obispo.
Donations might have dwindled temporarily on the Central Coast, but Tri-Counties Blood Bank’s Edwards said local blood banks are nowhere near experiencing a “blood shortage.”
“In the whole United States, there is a lot of blood available because many hospitals aren’t using all of their supplies,” he said.
Still, to combat the impact of tough economic times, recent rains, and the emerging cold and flu season on the blood supply, local blood banks, in partnership with California Fresh, are launching the “Spring Into Life Blood Drive.”
As a way of saying “thank you” to blood donors, local blood banks will give donors through March 22 certificates for a free California Fresh smoothie and sandwich combo.
Donations can be made Monday through Friday at the UBS Center, 1770 S. Broadway, in Santa Maria. The center is open late on Wednesday and Thursday evenings—until 7 p.m.—to encourage donations during non-work hours. Donations of O negative, the universal donor, are in especially high demand.
Donors must be in good health and at least 16 years old and weigh at least 110 pounds. Additional height and weight restrictions may apply for people younger than 23.
For more information about donating blood at the UBS Center or at a regional blood drive, call 928-2546 or visit UnitedBloodServices.org/CentralCoast. Appointments are appreciated, but not necessary.
This article appears in Feb 26 – Mar 5, 2009.