Blood Drive In Elsinore: Holiday Donations Of A Different Sort

RIVERSIDE COUNTY, CA — The American Red Cross is urging eligible donors to give more life to patients now and into the new year by giving blood or platelets. Donations decline during the time between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Day when busy holiday schedules cause regular donors to be less available to give and many 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 during the seven weeks from Thanksgiving through the first week of January than the average during the rest of the year.

“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. “We’re asking donors to give now to help ensure blood is available when patients need it most.”

Blood is perishable and can only be replenished by volunteer donors. Red blood cells, the most transfused blood product, must be transfused within 42 days.

“Platelet donors don’t have to wait a few weeks to make a difference in a patient’s life,” said Winkenbach. “Someone could donate platelets on Monday, and by Friday, those same platelets can help someone’s fight to kick cancer.”

Kelly Ellison certainly knows that. Twenty-eight weeks into her third pregnancy, she was raced to the hospital with uncontrollable bleeding and received a doubly devastating diagnosis. Not only did she have aplastic anemia – a rare blood disorder in which the body’s bone marrow does not produce enough new blood cells – doctors also detected kidney cancer. Kelly received 43 units of blood and platelets. Five weeks later, she gave birth prematurely to her son, who also needed blood transfusions to survive.

“Our lives have been forever changed because of lifesaving blood and platelet donations,” said Ellison. “Every breath I take is a blessing!”

All blood types are needed this winter. Platelet donations are especially encouraged the first week of the new year, which is among the most difficult to collect enough platelets to meet patient needs. Donation appointments can be quickly and easily scheduled by using the Red Cross Blood Donor App, visiting redcrossblood.org or calling 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767).

As a special thank-you for taking the time to donate, those who come to give Dec. 21 through Jan. 7 will receive a long-sleeved Red Cross T-shirt, while supplies last.3

Upcoming blood donation opportunities in Riverside County:

Corona

• 1/5/2018: 1 p.m. - 7 p.m., Green River Village, 4901 Green River Road

Hemet

• 1/2/2018: 10:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m., Jersey Mike's, 719 S Sanderson Ave

Lake Elsinore

• 1/2/2018: 11 a.m. - 5 p.m., Jersey Mike's Subs, 31800 Grape St

Moreno Valley

• 12/20/2017: 8:30 a.m. - 8:30 p.m., MVP Cars, 27910 Eucalyptus Ave
• 1/7/2018: 8:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m., Palm Canyon Community Church, 25550 Ironwood Ave

Murrieta

• 12/18/2017: 3 p.m. - 9 p.m., Epic Rollertainment, 39809 Avenida Acacias
• 12/22/2017: 12 p.m. - 6 p.m., Rancho Springs Medical Center, 25520 Medical Dr
• 1/12/2018: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m., Murrieta Public Library, 24700 Adams Avenue
• 1/12/2018: 12 p.m. - 6 p.m., Rancho Springs Medical Center, 25520 Medical Dr
• 1/15/2018: 10:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m., Jersey Mike's Subs, 25359 Madison Ave
• 1/3/2018: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m., Ticor Tittle Co, 25220 Hancock Ave, Ste 105
• 1/3/2018: 8 a.m. - 8 p.m., Wal-Mart, 41200 Murrieta Hot Springs Rd
• 1/5/2018: 8 a.m. - 2 p.m., YMCA, 39573 Los Alamos Rd

Riverside

• 12/20/2017: 1 p.m. - 7 p.m., American Red Cross Riverside Chapter, 6235 Rivercrest Drive Suite A
• 12/21/2017: 8:30 a.m. - 8:30 p.m., Moss Bros Auto Group, 8151 Auto Drive
• 12/22/2017: 7:30 a.m. - 7:30 p.m., Riverside Community Hospital, 4445 Magnolia Ave
• 12/31/2017: 8 a.m. - 2 p.m., American Red Cross Riverside Chapter, 6235 Rivercrest Drive Suite A
• 1/2/2018: 1 p.m. - 7 p.m., American Red Cross Riverside Chapter, 6235 Rivercrest Drive Suite A
• 1/4/2018: 7:30 a.m. - 7:30 p.m., Riverside Community Hospital, 4445 Magnolia Ave
• 1/4/2018: 9 a.m. - 3 p.m., County of Riverside Department of Child Support Services, 2001 Iowa Ave
• 1/7/2018: 8 a.m. - 2 p.m., Our Lady of Guadalupe Shrine, 2858 Ninth St
• 1/8/2018: 1 p.m. - 7 p.m., American Red Cross Riverside Chapter, 6235 Rivercrest Drive Suite A

Temecula

12/22/2017: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m., Wal-Mart, 32225 Hwy 79 South
12/29/2017: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m., Wal-Mart, 32225 Hwy 79 South
1/5/2018: 8 a.m. - 8 p.m., Wal-Mart, 32225 Hwy 79 South
1/7/2018: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m., Wal-Mart, 32225 Hwy 79 South

— SUBMITTED FOR PUBLICATION BY: The American Red Cross / Image via Shutterstock