How To Give Blood In Calabasas Amid 'Critical' Shortage

CALABASAS, CA — Cedars-Sinai and other authorities urged Calabasas residents to give blood as supplies hit their lowest levels in more than a decade.

The American Red Cross, which supplies about 40 percent of blood in the U.S., is experiencing its worst blood shortage in more than a decade, the organization said in a news release.
Blood supplies have been low for the last two years because of the pandemic, according to a Cedars-Sinai news release.

People donated less during the pandemic, especially since blood drives are often hosted in office buildings and schools, institutions that haven’t been consistently in-person for nearly two years.

The holidays are typically a slow time for blood donations, with holiday travel, seasonal illness and weather, according to Cedars-Sinai. That makes donating in the new year more important.

Low blood supplies can have dire consequences for a hospital. Low blood supplies force hospitals to defer major surgeries such as organ transplants, according to the Red Cross.

Donating blood is “half an hour out of your day, and it really does make a huge difference in people’s lives. One donation can save up to two to three lives," said Armando Romero, associate director of transfusion medicine at Cedars-Sinai. He added: “Blood donations made at Cedars-Sinai directly help others in your community. It’s a way to have a quick, major impact on someone’s life.”

The Red Cross is running a special deal to help incentivize blood donations. If you donate blood with the Red Cross in January, you will be entered into a lottery to win tickets to the Super Bowl, including three nights in a hotel and a $500 gift card.

Here is how to give blood near Calabasas:

• Saturday and Sunday, Woodland Hills Blood Donation Center, 6338 Variel Avenue, 7 a.m. to 3 p.m.
• Sunday, Agoura Bible Fellowship, 5564 Foothill Drive, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
• Monday, Woodland Hills Blood Donation Center, 6338 Variel Avenue, 11:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.
• Jan.23, Temple Valley Beth Shalom, 15739 Ventura Boulevard, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Check out the Cedars-Sinai and Red Cross websites to see all upcoming blood drives in Los Angeles. You can also call Cedars-Sinai at 310-423-4170 to schedule a blood donation.