Donors Of All Blood Types Needed: Give Near La Mesa

SAN DIEGO COUNTY, CA — The American Red Cross is asking people of all races and ethnicities in San Diego County to give blood or platelets to help increase the diversity of the blood supply.

The vast majority of blood types fall into one of the major blood groups. However, for patients with rare blood types or those who receive regular blood transfusions, blood must be matched closely – beyond the primary A, B, O and AB blood types – to reduce the risk of developing complications from transfusion therapy. The best match may be someone of the same racial or ethnic group, according to the Red Cross.

"Donors of all blood types, as well as all races and ethnicities, are needed to meet the needs of an increasingly diverse patient population," Red Cross officials said.

There are many opportunities for people to donate blood or platelets in the county. Below are the dates, times and locations of planned blood drives through mid-October.

Upcoming blood drives in San Diego County

Bonsall

• 9/25/2019: 7:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m., Bonsall High School, 7350 Lilac Road

Carlsbad

• 10/6/2019: 7 a.m. - 1 p.m., The Fields Church, 2265 Camino Vida Roble
• 10/9/2019: 8 a.m. - 2 p.m., Medtronic, 2101 Faraday Ave.

Escondido

• 9/27/2019: 11:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m., Mercedes Benz, 1101 W. 9th Ave.
• 9/28/2019: 9 a.m. - 3 p.m., Escondido Community, 2245 East Valley Parkway
• 10/3/2019: 8 a.m. - 2 p.m., Escondido Adult School, 220 W. Crest Ave.
• 10/3/2019: 1 p.m. - 7 p.m., Escondido Adult School, 220 W. Crest Ave.
• 10/3/2019: 2 p.m. - 7 p.m., Escondido Community, 2245 East Valley Parkway
• 10/14/2019: 2 p.m. - 7 p.m., Escondido Community, 2245 East Valley Parkway

Fallbrook

• 10/8/2019: 9:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m., Fallbrook Library, 124 South Mission Road

La Jolla

• 9/27/2019: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m., University California San Diego Library Walk, 9500 Gilman Drive
• 10/3/2019: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m., University California San Diego Library Walk, 9500 Gilman Drive
• 10/8/2019: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m., University California San Diego Library Walk, 9500 Gilman Drive
• 10/14/2019: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m., University California San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive
• 10/15/2019: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m., University California San Diego Library Walk, 9500 Gilman Drive

National City

• 10/4/2019: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m., Paradise Valley Hospital, 2400 East Fourth Street

Oceanside

• 9/26/2019: 2 p.m. - 7 p.m., Oceanside Masonic Center, 511 Eucalyptus
• 10/10/2019: 2 p.m. - 7 p.m., Oceanside Masonic Center, 511 Eucalyptus
• 10/13/2019: 8:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m., St. Thomas More Church, 1450 S. Melrose Drive
• 10/14/2019: 1 p.m. - 7 p.m., Oceanside Masonic Center, 511 Eucalyptus

Poway

• 9/25/2019: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m., Poway Branch Library, 13137 Poway Road

Rancho Santa Fe

• 10/2/2019: 9:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m., Rancho Santa Fe Library, 17040 Avenida De Acacias

San Diego

Kearny Mesa Blood Donation Center, 4229 Ponderosa Ave., Suite C
See RedCrossBlood.org for hours

• 9/25/2019: 11 a.m. - 5 p.m., Theta Chi House, 5505 Lindo Paseo
• 9/27/2019: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m., Gas Lamp Square, 170 Sixth Ave
• 9/30/2019: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m., San Diego State University Aztec Walk, 5500 Campanile Drive
• 9/30/2019: 11 a.m. - 5 p.m., PIKES House, 5525 Aztec Walk
• 10/1/2019: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m., San Diego State University Aztec Walk, 5500 Campanile Drive
• 10/1/2019: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m., San Diego State University Phi Delta Theta, 5734 Montezuma Road
• 10/2/2019: 10:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m., Tula Community Center, 6124 Montezuma Road
• 10/3/2019: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m., San Diego State University Aztec Walk, 5500 Campanile Drive
• 10/6/2019: 8:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m., Life Bridge Church, 17645 West Bernardo Drive
• 10/7/2019: 8 a.m. - 2 p.m., TD Ameritrade San Diego, 5010 Wateridge Vista Drive
• 10/8/2019: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m., University Center, 5998 Alcala Park
• 10/9/2019: 9 a.m. - 3 p.m., Miramar College - Student Affairs Building, 10440 Black Mountain Road
• 10/10/2019: 9 a.m. - 3 p.m., HoyleCohen, 9350 Waxie Way, Suite 100
• 10/10/2019: 1 p.m. - 7 p.m., AVA Pacific Beach, 3883 Ingraham St.
• 10/11/2019: 8 a.m. - 2 p.m., Town and Country San Diego, 500 Hotel Circle
• 10/12/2019: 9 a.m. - 3 p.m., Town and Country San Diego, 500 Hotel Circle
• 10/13/2019: 8 a.m. - 2 p.m., Town and Country San Diego, 500 Hotel Circle

San Marcos

• 9/25/2019: 9 a.m. - 3 p.m., Palomar College, 1140 W. Mission Road
• 9/26/2019: 9 a.m. - 3 p.m., Palomar College, 1140 W. Mission Road
• 9/26/2019: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m., California State University San Marcos Kellogg Plaza, 333 S Twin Oaks Valley Road

Santee

• 10/7/2019: 2 p.m. - 7 p.m., Santee United Methodist Church, 8964 Magnolia Ave.
• 10/15/2019: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m., Health Occupations Center, 9368 Oakbourne Road

Solana Beach

• 10/2/2019: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m., Solana Beach Library, 157 Stevens Ave.

Vista

• 10/1/2019: 11:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m., Vista Library, 700 Eucalyptus Ave.
• 10/11/2019: 8 a.m. - 2 p.m., Guajome Park Academy, 2000 N Santa Fe
• 10/15/2019: 7:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m., Murray High School, 215 N Melrose Drive

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 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 or use the Blood Donor App.