LifeStream, San Gorgonio Memorial Partner On Twice-Monthly Drives

BANNING- BEAUMONT, CA— From LifeStream:

True or false: If you have a tattoo or body piercing, you cannot donate blood.

True or false: If you have diabetes, you cannot donate blood.

True or false: Anemia is a permanent condition. If you have it, you cannot donate blood.

True or false: Pass-area blood donors now have a consistent, convenient location to regularly give the gift of life, including platelet donations to assist cancer patients and others battling blood diseases.

Only the last statement is true.

San Gorgonio Memorial Hospital, 600 N Highland Springs Ave., Banning, and LifeStream Blood Bank are partnering on twice-monthly blood drives (all on Fridays) at the hospital.

“This outreach from San Gorgonio Memorial couldn’t be timelier,” said LifeStream President, CEO and Medical Director Dr. Rick Axelrod. “Our region is enduring a lengthy community blood shortage, that, if not alleviated, risks patient well-being.

“Now, Pass-area donors can maximize their effectiveness in assisting patients while minimizing their time in doing so.”

Whole blood may be donated once every 56 days. But platelet donations – heretofore requiring local residents to travel to a LifeStream donor center (Riverside and San Bernardino being the closest) – may be given twice monthly, aligning with the new San Gorgonio Memorial drive schedule.

BLOOD DONATION MYTHS AND OPPORTUNITIES

Upcoming blood drive dates at the hospital are May 24; June 7 and 14; July 5 and 12; and August 2 and 9. Walk-ins are welcome; for more information or to set an appointment, call 800-879-4484 or visit LStream.org/sangorgonio/

Donors at the May 24 drive (11 a.m. to 4 p.m.) receive a special edition Memorial Day T-shirt.

Now, about those first three questions.

Tattoos and body piercings are NOT cause for blood donation deferral. You CAN donate blood if the inking/piercing was performed in a licensed California establishment, the tattoo/piercing area has healed, and all other donation criteria are met.

Diabetes does NOT disqualify one from giving blood. You CAN donate blood if your diet and/or medication is well controlled, you haven’t had significant recent episodes of hyperglycemia or hypoglycemia, and all other donation criteria are met.

Anemia is NOT a permanent condition. To combat it, a diet rich in iron-containing foods is recommended. Discuss with your healthcare provider other options, including supplementation with low-dose iron taken by mouth.

For more information on who “can and cannot donate blood,” visit our site.

LifeStream is a local, nonprofit blood bank that provides blood products and services to more than 80 Southern California hospitals. For more information, call 800-879-4484 or visit LStream.org.