Save Lives This Holiday Season: Blood Drive In Imperial Beach

SAN DIEGO COUNTY, CA – Give the gift of life this holiday season by donating blood or platelets. The American Red Cross is asking eligible donors to give because donations typically decline between Thanksgiving and New Year's Day.

Overall, the holiday season is among the most challenging times of the year for blood and platelet donations as regular donors have busy holiday schedules and blood drives may be canceled due to severe winter storms. Last year, nearly 64,000 fewer blood and platelet donations were given through the Red Cross from Thanksgiving through the first week of January than the average during the rest of the year, according to the American Red Cross.

"By taking just about an hour of time today, you can help save someone's life within a few weeks or even days of your donation," said Jay Winkenbach, donor recruitment director of the Red Cross California Blood Services Region.

How to Help

To schedule an appointment to donate, use the Blood Donor App, visit redcrossblood.org or call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767). Donation appointments and completion of a RapidPass online health history questionnaire are encouraged to help reduce the time it takes to donate.

As a special thank you, those who give blood or platelets with the Red Cross Dec. 21 through Jan. 7 will receive a long-sleeved Red Cross T-shirt, while supplies last.

Upcoming Blood Drives in San Diego County

Carlsbad

• 12/20/2017: 8 a.m. - 2 p.m., Sage Creek High School, 3900 Cannon Rd.

Chula Vista

• 12/18/2017: 2 p.m. - 7 p.m., Chula Vista South Bay Service Center, 311 Del Mar Ave.
• 1/4/2018: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m., Vons, 2250 Otay Lakes Rd.

Coronado

• 1/2/2018: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m., Coronado Public Library, 640 Orange Ave.

El Cajon

• 12/18/2017: 1 p.m. - 7 p.m., El Cajon Heartland Masonic, 695 Ballantyne St.
• 12/28/2017: 1 p.m. - 7 p.m., El Cajon Heartland Masonic, 695 Ballantyne St.
• 1/15/2018: 2 p.m. - 7 p.m., El Cajon Heartland Masonic, 695 Ballantyne St.

Encinitas

• 12/18/2017: 8 a.m. - 2 p.m., Scripps Memorial Hospital, 354 Santa Fe Drive
• 12/22/2017: 8 a.m. - 7 p.m., Best Buy, 1046 N. El Camino Real
• 1/2/2018: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m., Encinitas Library, 540 Cornish Drive
• 1/14/2018: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m., Best Buy, 1046 N. El Camino Real

Escondido

• 12/19/2017: 8:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m., Valley High School, 410 N. Hidden Trails Rd.
• 12/21/2017: 1 p.m. - 7 p.m., Escondido East Valley Community Center, 2245 East Valley Parkway
• 12/23/2017: 9 a.m. - 3 p.m., Escondido East Valley Community Center, 2245 East Valley Parkway
• 12/24/2017: 9 a.m. - 3 p.m., Westfield North County, 272 E. Via Rancho Parkway
• 12/26/2017: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m., Westfield North County, 272 E. Via Rancho Parkway
• 1/2/2018: 1 p.m. - 7 p.m., Escondido East Valley Community Center, 2245 East Valley Parkway
• 1/4/2018: 1 p.m. - 7 p.m., Escondido East Valley Community Center, 2245 East Valley Parkway
• 1/4/2018: 9 a.m. - 3 p.m., City of Escondido, 201 N. Broadway
• 1/8/2018: 1 p.m. - 7 p.m., Escondido East Valley Community Center, 2245 East Valley Parkway
• 1/9/2018: 10:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m., Toyota of Escondido, 231 Lincoln Parkway
• 1/10/2018: 9 a.m. - 3 p.m., Escondido Police Department, 1163 N. Centre City Parkway
• 1/13/2018: 9 a.m. - 3 p.m., Escondido East Valley Community Center, 2245 East Valley Parkway

Fallbrook

• 1/9/2018: 9:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m., Fallbrook Library, 124 South Mission Rd.

Imperial Beach

• 1/12/2018: 12 p.m. - 6 p.m., Imperial Beach Farmers Market, 10 Evergreen Ave.

La Jolla

• 12/19/2017: 8 a.m. - 2 p.m., Scripps Green Hospital, 10666 N. Torrey Pines Rd.
• 1/5/2018: 8 a.m. - 2 p.m., Lawrence Family JCC, 4126 Executive Drive
• 1/8/2018: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m., University California San Diego Library Walk, 9500 Gilman Drive
• 1/10/2018: 8 a.m. - 7 p.m., University California San Diego RIMAC Arena, 9500 Gilman Drive
• 1/11/2018: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m., Marriott Hotel, 4240 La Jolla Village Drive

Oceanside

• 12/28/2017: 2 p.m. - 7 p.m., Oceanside Masonic Center, 511 Eucalyptus
• 12/31/2017: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m., Wal-Mart, 3404 Marron Rd.
• 12/31/2017: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m., Wal-Mart, 705 College Blvd.
• 1/6/2018: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m., Wal-Mart, 705 College Blvd.
• 1/10/2018: 9 a.m. - 3 p.m., Oceanside Police Department, 3855 Mission Ave.
• 1/11/2018: 1 p.m. - 7 p.m., Oceanside Masonic Center, 511 Eucalyptus

Pine Valley

• 1/8/2018: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m., US Border Patrol, 32355 Old Highway 80

Poway

• 12/27/2017: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m., Poway Branch Library, 13137 Poway Rd.

San Diego

• 12/18/2017: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m., Sport Clips Haircuts, 11944 Bernardo Plaza Drive
• 12/18/2017: 12:15 p.m. - 7:30 p.m., Kearny Mesa Blood Donation Center, 4229 Ponderosa Ave. Suite C
• 12/19/2017: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m., AMN Healthcare, 12400 High Bluff Drive
• 12/19/2017: 12:15 p.m. - 7:15 p.m., Kearny Mesa Blood Donation Center, 4229 Ponderosa Ave. Suite C
• 12/20/2017: 12 p.m. - 6 p.m., Carmel Mountain Ranch Library, 12095 World Trade Drive
• 12/20/2017: 12:15 p.m. - 7:15 p.m., Kearny Mesa Blood Donation Center, 4229 Ponderosa Ave. Suite C
• 12/21/2017: 1 p.m. - 7 p.m., Gossip Grill, 1220 University Ave.
• 12/21/2017: 9:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m., Westfield Mall, 4545 La Jolla Village Dr, Suite E-1
• 12/22/2017: 8:15 a.m. - 3:15 p.m., Kearny Mesa Blood Donation Center, 4229 Ponderosa Ave. Suite C
• 12/23/2017: 7:45 a.m. - 3 p.m., Kearny Mesa Blood Donation Center, 4229 Ponderosa Ave. Suite C
• 12/24/2017: 7:45 a.m. - 2:45 p.m., Kearny Mesa Blood Donation Center, 4229 Ponderosa Ave. Suite C
• 12/26/2017: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m., Wal-Mart, 3382 Murphy Canyon Road
• 12/26/2017: 12:15 p.m. - 7:15 p.m., Kearny Mesa Blood Donation Center, 4229 Ponderosa Ave. Suite C
• 12/27/2017: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m., Navy Federal Credit Union, 10645 Tierrasanta Blvd E
• 12/27/2017: 12 p.m. - 6 p.m., Rancho Penasquitos Library, 13330 Salmon River Road
• 12/27/2017: 12:15 p.m. - 7:15 p.m., Kearny Mesa Blood Donation Center, 4229 Ponderosa Ave. Suite C
• 12/28/2017: 10:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m., VA San Diego Healthcare, 3350 La Jolla Village Drive
• 12/28/2017: 8:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m., Magellan Health Services, 3131 Camino Del Rio North
• 12/29/2017: 8:15 a.m. - 3:15 p.m., Kearny Mesa Blood Donation Center, 4229 Ponderosa Ave. Suite C
• 12/29/2017: 9 a.m. - 3 p.m., UC Medical Center, 200 West Arbor Drive
• 12/30/2017: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m., eaves Rancho Penasquitos, 10024 Paseo Montril
• 12/30/2017: 7:45 a.m. - 3 p.m., Kearny Mesa Blood Donation Center, 4229 Ponderosa Ave. Suite C
• 1/2/2018: 12:15 p.m. - 7:15 p.m., Kearny Mesa Blood Donation Center, 4229 Ponderosa Ave. Suite C
• 1/3/2018: 12:15 p.m. - 7:15 p.m., Kearny Mesa Blood Donation Center, 4229 Ponderosa Ave. Suite C
• 1/5/2018: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m., American Red Cross Chapter Main Building, 3950 Calle Fortunada
• 1/5/2018: 8:15 a.m. - 3:15 p.m., Kearny Mesa Blood Donation Center, 4229 Ponderosa Ave. Suite C
• 1/6/2018: 7:45 a.m. - 3 p.m., Kearny Mesa Blood Donation Center, 4229 Ponderosa Ave. Suite C
• 1/7/2018: 7:45 a.m. - 2:45 p.m., Kearny Mesa Blood Donation Center, 4229 Ponderosa Ave. Suite C
• 1/7/2018: 8 a.m. - 2 p.m., Hope Worldwide The Mission, 5155 Green Brier Ave
• 1/8/2018: 12:15 p.m. - 7:30 p.m., Kearny Mesa Blood Donation Center, 4229 Ponderosa Ave. Suite C
• 1/9/2018: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m., San Diego Police Department, 1401 Broadway Street
• 1/9/2018: 12:15 p.m. - 7:15 p.m., Kearny Mesa Blood Donation Center, 4229 Ponderosa Ave. Suite C
• 1/10/2018: 12:15 p.m. - 7:15 p.m., Kearny Mesa Blood Donation Center, 4229 Ponderosa Ave. Suite C
• 1/12/2018: 8:15 a.m. - 3:15 p.m., Kearny Mesa Blood Donation Center, 4229 Ponderosa Ave. Suite C
• 1/12/2018: 9:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m., Garden Communities, 11195 Westview Parkwy
• 1/13/2018: 7:45 a.m. - 3 p.m., Kearny Mesa Blood Donation Center, 4229 Ponderosa Ave. Suite C
• 1/14/2018: 7:45 a.m. - 2:45 p.m., Kearny Mesa Blood Donation Center, 4229 Ponderosa Ave. Suite C
• 1/15/2018: 12:15 p.m. - 7:30 p.m., Kearny Mesa Blood Donation Center, 4229 Ponderosa Ave. Suite C

San Marcos

• 1/2/2018: 1 p.m. - 7 p.m., Lakehouse Hotel and Resort, 1105 La Bonita Drive

Solana Beach

• 12/26/2017: 11 a.m. - 5 p.m., Solana Beach Library, 157 Stevens Ave.

What to Know About Giving Blood

Interested in donating? Download the American Red Cross Blood Donor App, visit redcrossblood.org or call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) for more information or to make an appointment.

A blood donor card or driver's license or two other forms of identification are required at check-in. Individuals who are 17 years of age in most states (16 with parental consent where allowed by state law), weigh at least 110 pounds and are in generally good health may be eligible to donate blood. High school students and other donors 18 years of age and younger also have to meet certain height and weight requirements.

Blood donors can save time at their next donation by using RapidPass to complete their pre-donation reading and health history questionnaire online, on the day of their donation, prior to arriving at the blood drive. To get started and learn more, visit redcrossblood.org/RapidPass.

Top image via Shutterstock

Other photos credit Amanda Romney/American Red Cross