Emergency Call For Blood Donors: Where To Give In Fountain Valley, Nearby

ORANGE COUNTY, CA – For the first time in eight years, the American Red Cross in Southern California has issued an emergency call for blood and platelets, urging all eligible donors to give now to replenish an extremely low summer blood supply.

Blood donations through the Red Cross in Southern California and across the country have fallen short of hospital needs for the past few months, resulting in about 39,000 fewer donations nationwide than what’s needed, as well as a significant draw down of the overall Red Cross blood supply, according to officials.

The Red Cross strives to keep a five-day blood supply available at all times to meet the needs of patients every day and be prepared for emergencies that would require significant volumes of donated blood products. Currently, however, the Red Cross has less than a five-day supply on hand, the agency said.

“Right now, blood products are being distributed to hospitals faster than donations are coming in, which is why we are making this emergency request for donations,” said Dr. Ross Herron, chief medical officer of the Red Cross West Blood Services Division, which includes the Southern California Blood Services Region.

"Donations are urgently needed now to meet the needs of hospital patients in the coming days and weeks. If you’ve thought about giving blood and helping to save lives, now is the time to do it. It’s the blood donations on the shelves that help save lives when an emergency occurs.”

How to Help
To schedule an appointment to donate, use the free Blood Donor App, visit redcrossblood.org or call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767).

The Red Cross is extending hours at many donation sites to allow for more donors to make an appointment to give. Donation appointments and completion of a RapidPass online health history questionnaire are encouraged to avoid longer wait times. Donors with all blood types are needed.

Those unable to give can still help by encouraging others to give through a SleevesUp virtual blood drive at redcrossblood.org/sleevesup, giving of their time through volunteerism or making a financial donation to support Red Cross humanitarian work across the country and around the world.

Upcoming blood donation opportunities:

July 26, 2016

• Laguna Hills Blood Donation Center, 22971 Mill Creek Dr., Laguna Hills, CA 92653 - 12:00 PM – 7:00 PM
• Fountain Valley Blood Donation Center, 17800 Newhope St., Fountain Valley, CA 92708 12 p.m. to 7 p.m.
• Coto de Caza Golf & Racquet Club, 25291 Vista Del Verde, Coto de Caza, CA 92679 - 8:00 AM – 7:00 PM
• El Toro Library, 24672 Raymond Way, Lake Forest, CA 92630 - 11:30 AM – 5:30 PM

July 27, 2016

• Orange County Social Services, 115 Columbia, Aliso Viejo, CA 92656 - 8:00 AM – 2:00 PM
• Laguna Hills Blood Donation Center, 22971 Mill Creek Dr., Laguna Hills, CA 92653 - 12:00 PM – 7:00 PM
• Center for Spiritual Living, 1201 Puerta del Sol Suite 100, San Clemente, CA 92673 - 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM
• Santa Margarita Water District, 26111 Antonio Parkway, Rancho Santa Margarita, CA 92688 - 7:00 AM – 1:00 PM

July 28, 2016

• Fountain Valley Blood Donation Center, 17800 Newhope St., Fountain Valley, CA 92708 - 10:30 AM – 5:30 PM
• Laguna Hills Blood Donation Center, 22971 Mill Creek Dr., Laguna Hills, CA 92653 - 10:30 AM – 5:30 PM
• San Juan Hills Golf Club, 32120 San Juan Creek Rd, San Juan Capistrano, CA 92675 - 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM
• Shepherd of the Hills United Methodist Church Mission Viejo Campus, 26001 Muirlands, Mission Viejo, CA 92691 - 2:00 PM – 8:00 PM
• Avalon Baker Ranch, 1000 Lupine, Lake Forest, CA 92630 - 1:00 PM – 7:00 PM

July 29, 2016

• Fountain Valley Blood Donation Center, 17800 Newhope St., Fountain Valley, CA 92708 - 5:00 AM – 2:30 PM
• Huntington Beach Masonic Center, 601 Palm Avenue, Huntington Beach, CA 92648 - 1:00 PM – 7:00 PM
• Seal Beach Lifeguards, 888 Ocean Ave., Seal Beach, CA 90740 - 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM
• Leisure World Healthcare Center, 1661 Golden Rain Rd., Seal Beach, CA 90740 - 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM
• Oakbrook Plaza, 24422 Avenida de la Carlota, Laguna Hills, CA 92653 - 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM
• Laguna Hills Blood Donation Center, 22971 Mill Creek Dr., Laguna Hills, CA 92653 - 5:00 AM – 2:30 PM

July 30, 2016

• Fountain Valley Blood Donation Center, 17800 Newhope St., Fountain Valley, CA 92708 - 7:00 AM – 2:00 PM
• Laguna Hills Blood Donation Center, 22971 Mill Creek Dr., Laguna Hills, CA 92653 - 7:00 AM – 2:00 PM
• Pacific Ashtanga, 34207 Pacific Coast Hwy, Dana Point, CA 92629 - 8:00 AM – 2:00 PM

July 31, 2016

• Fountain Valley Blood Donation Center, 17800 Newhope St., Fountain Valley, CA 92708 - 7:00 AM – 2:00 PM
• Laguna Hills Blood Donation Center, 22971 Mill Creek Dr., Laguna Hills, CA 92653 - 7:00 AM – 2:00 PM
• Saddleback Church, 1 Saddleback Parkway, Lake Forest, CA 92630 - 7:30 AM – 1:30 PM

August 1, 2016

• YMCA, 8875 Adams Avenue, Huntington Beach, CA 92646 - 1:00 PM – 7:00 PM
• Fountain Valley Blood Donation Center, 17800 Newhope St., Fountain Valley, CA 92708 - 12:00 PM – 7:00 PM
• WestEd, 4665 Lampson Avenue, Los Alamitos, CA 90720 - 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM
• Laguna Hills Blood Donation Center, 22971 Mill Creek Dr., Laguna Hills, CA 92653 - 12:00 PM – 7:00 PM

August 2, 2016

• Fountain Valley Blood Donation Center, 17800 Newhope St., Fountain Valley, CA 92708 - 12:00 PM – 7:00 PM
• Laguna Hills Blood Donation Center, 22971 Mill Creek Dr., Laguna Hills, CA 92653 - 12:00 PM – 7:00 PM
• Veterinary Medical and Surgical Group- Orange County, 31896 Plaza Dr., San Juan Capistrano, CA 92675 - 9:00 AM – 7:00 PM

August 3, 2016

• Laguna Presbyterian Church, 415 Forest Ave., Laguna Beach, CA 92651 - 10:30 AM – 4:30 PM
• Aliso Viejo Country Club, 33 Santa Barbara, Aliso Viejo, CA 92656 - 11:30 AM – 5:30 PM
• Laguna Hills Blood Donation Center, 22971 Mill Creek Dr., Laguna Hills, CA 92653 - 12:00 PM – 7:00 PM
• Avana San Clemente Apartments, 1100 Calle Del Cerro, San Clemente, CA 92672 - 1:00 PM – 7:00 PM
• Fountain Valley Blood Donation Center, 17800 Newhope St., Fountain Valley, CA 92708 - 2:00 PM – 7:00 PM

To get more details on the drives or to find others in the region, follow this link.

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--Info courtesy of the American Red Cross/Image via Shutterstock