Winter Blood Shortage Critical: Red Cross Drives In La Jolla

SAN DIEGO COUNTY, CA – The American Red Cross has reissued an urgent call for blood and platelet donors after severe winter weather and the widespread flu has caused an increase in canceled donations.

More than 550 blood drives were canceled in January because of the weather, causing more than 16,500 blood and platelet donations to go uncollected through last week, according to the Red Cross. The flu has also caused low turnout at blood drives.

"Blood and platelet donations are currently being distributed to hospitals faster than they are coming in," said Clifford Numark, senior vice president of Red Cross Blood Services. "Donors are critically needed to restock the shelves for patients in their community as well as areas where donors are unable to give due to inclement weather."

Regardless of the weather, the Red Cross needs to collect more than 13,000 blood and platelet donations every day to meet patient needs.

Make an appointment to give blood or platelets by downloading the free Red Cross Blood Donor App, visiting redcrossblood.org or calling 1-800-RED CROSS.

Upcoming Blood Drives In San Diego County

Bonita

• 2/4/2018: 8 a.m. - 2 p.m., Corpus Christi Catholic Church, 450 Corral Canyon Road

Cardiff

• 2/14/2018: 11:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m., Belmont Village Senior Living, 3535 Manchester Ave.

Carlsbad

• 1/30/2018: 10:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m., Henry Schein Orthodontics, 1822 Aston Ave.
• 2/7/2018: 8 a.m. - 2 p.m., Covidien, 2101 Faraday Ave.

Chula Vista

• 1/24/2018: 1 p.m. - 7 p.m., Bonita Vista High School, 751 Otay Lakes Road
• 1/25/2018: 8 a.m. - 2 p.m., Eastlake High School, 1120 Eastlake Parkway
• 1/30/2018: 7:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m., Youth Center, 465 L St.

El Cajon

• 2/5/2018: 1 p.m. - 7 p.m., El Cajon Heartland Masonic, 695 Ballantyne St.

Encinitas

• 2/6/2018: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m., Encinitas Library, 540 Cornish Drive

Escondido

• 2/1/2018: 1 p.m. - 7 p.m., Escondido Community, 2245 East Valley Parkway
• 2/10/2018: 9 a.m. - 3 p.m., Escondido East Valley Community Center, 2245 East Valley Parkway
• 2/11/2018: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m., Westfield North County, 272 East Via Rancho Parkway
• 2/12/2018: 1 p.m. - 7 p.m., Escondido Community, 2245 East Valley Parkway

Fallbrook

• 1/23/2018: 9:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m., Fallbrook Library, 124 South Mission Road

La Jolla

• 1/25/2018: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m., University California San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive
• 1/26/2018: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m., University California San Diego, Library Walk, 9500 Gilman Drive
• 1/31/2018: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m., University California San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive
• 2/5/2018: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m., University California San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive
• 2/9/2018: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m., University California San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive

Oceanside

• 1/25/2018: 1 p.m. - 7 p.m., Oceanside Masonic Center, 511 Eucalyptus
• 2/12/2018: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m., Brookdale, 3524 Lake Blvd.
• 2/2/2018: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m., Wal-Mart, 705 College Blvd.
• 2/4/2018: 8 a.m. - 2 p.m., New Song Community Church, 3985 Mission Ave.
• 2/8/2018: 1 p.m. - 7 p.m., Oceanside Masonic Center, 511 Eucalyptus

Poway

• 1/27/2018: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m., Poway Royal Estates, 13300 Alpine Drive

Ramona

• 2/6/2018: 7:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m., Ramona High School, 1401 Hanson Lane

San Diego

• 1/23/2018: 12:15 p.m. - 7:15 p.m., Kearny Mesa Blood Donation Center, 4229 Ponderosa Ave., Suite C
• 1/23/2018: 8:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m., Montgomery High School, 3250 Palm Ave.
• 1/24/2018: 11 a.m. - 5 p.m., Bastyr University California Building A, 4106 Sorrento Valley Blvd.
• 1/24/2018: 12:15 p.m. - 7:15 p.m., Kearny Mesa Blood Donation Center, 4229 Ponderosa Ave., Suite C
• 1/25/2018: 10:45 a.m. - 5:45 p.m., Kearny Mesa Blood Donation Center, 4229 Ponderosa Ave., Suite C
• 1/26/2018: 8:15 a.m. - 3:15 p.m., Kearny Mesa Blood Donation Center, 4229 Ponderosa Ave., Suite C
• 1/27/2018: 7:45 a.m. - 3 p.m., Kearny Mesa Blood Donation Center, 4229 Ponderosa Ave. Suite C
• 1/28/2018: 7:45 a.m. - 2:45 p.m., Kearny Mesa Blood Donation Center, 4229 Ponderosa Ave., Suite C
• 1/28/2018: 9 a.m. - 3 p.m., St Columbia School, 3365 Glencolum Drive
• 1/29/2018: 12:15 p.m. - 7:30 p.m., Kearny Mesa Blood Donation Center, 4229 Ponderosa Ave., Suite C
• 1/29/2018: 8 a.m. - 2 p.m., Serra High School, 5156 Santo Road
• 1/29/2018: 9 a.m. - 3 p.m., Miramar College - Student Affairs Building, 10440 Black Mountain Road
• 1/30/2018: 12:15 p.m. - 7:15 p.m., Kearny Mesa Blood Donation Center, 4229 Ponderosa Ave., Suite C
• 1/30/2018: 9 a.m. - 3 p.m., University Center, 5998 Alcala Park
• 1/31/2018: 12:15 p.m. - 7:15 p.m., Kearny Mesa Blood Donation Center, 4229 Ponderosa Ave., Suite C
• 2/1/2018: 10:45 a.m. - 5:45 p.m., Kearny Mesa Blood Donation Center, 4229 Ponderosa Ave. Suite C
• 2/2/2018: 8:15 a.m. - 3:15 p.m., Kearny Mesa Blood Donation Center, 4229 Ponderosa Ave., Suite C
• 2/3/2018: 7:45 a.m. - 3 p.m., Kearny Mesa Blood Donation Center, 4229 Ponderosa Ave. Suite C
• 2/4/2018: 7:45 a.m. - 2:45 p.m., Kearny Mesa Blood Donation Center, 4229 Ponderosa Ave., Suite C
• 2/5/2018: 12:15 p.m. - 7:30 p.m., Kearny Mesa Blood Donation Center, 4229 Ponderosa Ave., Suite C
• 2/6/2018: 12:15 p.m. - 7:15 p.m., Kearny Mesa Blood Donation Center, 4229 Ponderosa Ave., Suite C
• 2/7/2018: 11 a.m. - 5 p.m., PIKES House, 5525 Aztec Walk
• 2/7/2018: 12:15 p.m. - 7:15 p.m., Kearny Mesa Blood Donation Center, 4229 Ponderosa Ave., Suite C
• 2/7/2018: 9 a.m. - 3 p.m., Miramar College - Student Affairs Building, 10440 Black Mountain Road
• 2/8/2018: 10:45 a.m. - 5:45 p.m., Kearny Mesa Blood Donation Center, 4229 Ponderosa Ave., Suite C
• 2/8/2018: 8 a.m. - 3 p.m., Scripps Mercy Hospital, 4077 Fifth Ave.
• 2/9/2018: 8:15 a.m. - 3:15 p.m., Kearny Mesa Blood Donation Center, 4229 Ponderosa Ave., Suite C
• 2/9/2018: 9 a.m. - 3 p.m., Coleman Tech Charter High School, 3540 Aero Court
• 2/10/2018: 7:45 a.m. - 3 p.m., Kearny Mesa Blood Donation Center, 4229 Ponderosa Ave., Suite C
• 2/11/2018: 7 a.m. - 11:45 a.m., Hope Worldwide Creekside Elementary, 12362 Springhurst Road
• 2/11/2018: 7:45 a.m. - 2:45 p.m., Kearny Mesa Blood Donation Center, 4229 Ponderosa Ave., Suite C
• 2/12/2018: 12:15 p.m. - 7:30 p.m., Kearny Mesa Blood Donation Center, 4229 Ponderosa Ave., Suite C
• 2/13/2018: 12:15 p.m. - 7:15 p.m., Kearny Mesa Blood Donation Center, 4229 Ponderosa Ave., Suite C
• 2/14/2018: 12:15 p.m. - 7:15 p.m., Kearny Mesa Blood Donation Center, 4229 Ponderosa Ave., Suite C
• 2/15/2018: 10:45 a.m. - 5:45 p.m., Kearny Mesa Blood Donation Center, 4229 Ponderosa Ave., Suite C

San Diego State University

• 2/9/2018: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m., San Diego State University, Aztec Walk, 5500 Campanile Drive
• 2/13/2018: 8 a.m. - 8 p.m., San Diego State University, Aztec Walk, 5500 Campanile Drive

San Marcos

• 1/23/2018: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m., California State University San Marcos, Kellogg Plaza, 333 S. Twin Oaks Road
• 1/24/2018: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m., University Student Union, 333 S. Twin Oaks Valley Road
• 1/27/2018: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m., Biggs Harley-Davidson, 1040 Los Vallecitos Blvd., Suite #113
• 2/7/2018: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m., California State University San Marcos, Kellogg Plaza, 333 S Twin Oaks Road
• 2/14/2018: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m., California State University San Marcos, Kellogg Plaza, 333 S Twin Oaks Road
• 2/15/2018: 9 a.m. - 3 p.m., City of San Marcos City Hall, 1 Civic Center Drive

Vista

• 1/24/2018: 1 p.m. - 7 p.m., Avalon, 701 Breeze Hill Road

How To Give 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. All blood types are needed.

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 and platelet 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, before arriving at the blood drive. To get started and learn more, visit redcrossblood.org/RapidPass.

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Save Lives This Holiday Season: 78 Blood Drives In San Diego Co.

Photos credit Amanda Romney/American Red Cross