Urgent Call For Blood Donors: Blood Drives In Oceanside

SAN DIEGO COUNTY, CA – An emergency blood shortage in Southern California and across the country prompted the American Red Cross Wednesday to issue an urgent call for eligible donors of all blood types – especially type O – to help save lives.

The shortage follows a difficult Fourth of July week for blood donations, with more than 550 fewer blood drives than on a typical week, resulting in a decline in donations.

Blood is currently being distributed to hospitals faster than donations are coming in, and all eligible donors are needed to give now to help replenish the blood supply, said Christine Welch, an American Red Cross Blood Services spokeswoman.

The need is especially critical for type O blood donors, according to the Red Cross. Type O is the most in-demand blood type and often the first to be depleted from hospital shelves during a shortage. Type O negative is the universal blood type and what emergency room personnel reach for when there is no time to determine the blood type of patients in the most serious situations. Type O positive is the most common blood type and can be transfused to Rh-positive patients of any blood type.

"Each and every day, individuals across the country depend on blood and platelet donations for lifesaving treatments and emergency care, so it's critical that people donate now to meet these needs," said Cliff Numark, senior vice president of Red Cross Blood Services. "Whether you've never donated or give a couple of times a year, you're needed to give as soon as possible to help save patient lives. Yours may be the donation a patient is counting on."

How to Help

The Red Cross has added about 6,500 additional appointment slots at donation centers and community blood drives across the country over the next few weeks to accommodate more donors.

To schedule an appointment to donate, use the Red Cross Blood Donor App, visit redcrossblood.org or call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767). Make an appointment and complete a RapidPass online health history questionnaire to help reduce the time it takes to donate.

Upcoming Blood Drives in San Diego County

Carlsbad

• 7/22/2018: 8 a.m. - 2 p.m., New Song Community Church, 3780 Pio Pico Drive
• 7/24/2018: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m., Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Inc., 2855 Gazelle Court
• 7/25/2018: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m., National University Carlsbad, 705 Palomar Airport Road Suite 206

Chula Vista

• 7/31/2018: 1 p.m. - 7 p.m., Chula Vista South Bay Service Center, 311 Del Mar Ave.

El Cajon

• 7/13/2018: 11 a.m. - 5 p.m., Advanced Training Associates, 1810 Gillespie Way, Suite #104
• 7/16/2018: 2 p.m. - 7 p.m., El Cajon Heartland Masonic, 695 Ballantyne St.

Encinitas

7/30/2018: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m., Encinitas Library, 540 Cornish Drive

Escondido

• 7/14/2018: 10 a.m. - 3 p.m., Escondido East Valley Community Center, 2245 East Valley Parkway
• 7/27/2018: 11:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m., Westfield North County, 272 E. Via Rancho Parkway
• 7/28/2018: 9 a.m. - 3 p.m., Escondido East Valley Community Center, 2245 East Valley Parkway
• 7/29/2018: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m., Westfield North County, 272 E. Via Rancho Parkway

Fallbrook

7/20/2018: 9:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m., Fallbrook Library, 124 South Mission Road

La Jolla

• 7/12/2018: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m., Marriott Hotel, 4240 La Jolla Village Drive
• 7/16/2018: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m., University California San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive
• 7/19/2018: 8 a.m. - 2 p.m., Scripps Green Hospital, 10666 N. Torrey Pines Road
• 7/23/2018: 9 a.m. - 3 p.m., UC Thorton Hospital, 9300 Campus Point Drive

National City

• 7/18/2018: 9 a.m. - 3 p.m., Martin Luther King Community Center, 140 E 12th St.

Oceanside

• 7/12/2018: 2 p.m. - 7 p.m., Oceanside Masonic Center, 511 Eucalyptus
• 7/15/2018: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m., Wal-Mart, 3404 Marron Road
• 7/21/2018: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m., Wal-Mart, 705 College Blvd.
• 7/26/2018: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m., Wal-Mart, 3404 Marron Road
• 7/26/2018: 2 p.m. - 7 p.m., Oceanside Masonic Center, 511 Eucalyptus
• 7/27/2018: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m., 8-2-8 Urgent Care, 4171 Oceanside Ave., Suite 109

Poway

• 7/15/2018: 8 a.m. - 2 p.m., St Michael’s Catholic Church, 15546 Pomerado Road

Rancho Bernardo

• 7/23/2018: 1 p.m. - 7 p.m., National University Rancho Bernardo, 16875 West Bernardo Dr.

San Diego

• 7/11/2018: 8 a.m. - 2 p.m., St Paul's Senior Services, 328 Maple St.
• 7/11/2018: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m., Garden Communities La Jolla Crossroads, 9085 Judicial Drive
• 7/11/2018: 12:15 p.m. - 7:15 p.m., Kearny Mesa Blood Donation Center, 4229 Ponderosa Ave. Suite C
• 7/12/2018: 9 a.m. - 3 p.m., Miramar College - Student Affairs Building, 10440 Black Mountain Road
• 7/12/2018: 10:45 a.m. - 5:45 p.m., Kearny Mesa Blood Donation Center, 4229 Ponderosa Ave. Suite C
• 7/13/2018: 8:15 a.m. - 3:15 p.m., Kearny Mesa Blood Donation Center, 4229 Ponderosa Ave. Suite C
• 7/14/2018: 7:45 a.m. - 3 p.m., Kearny Mesa Blood Donation Center, 4229 Ponderosa Ave. Suite C
• 7/15/2018: 7:45 a.m. - 2:45 p.m., Kearny Mesa Blood Donation Center, 4229 Ponderosa Ave. Suite C
• 7/16/2018: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m., Southbay Urgent Care, 1628 Palm Ave.
• 7/16/2018: 12:15 p.m. - 7:30 p.m., Kearny Mesa Blood Donation Center, 4229 Ponderosa Ave. Suite C
• 7/17/2018: 9 a.m. - 3 p.m., Unire Real Estate, 11988 El Camino Real Suite 120
• 7/17/2018: 10:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m., VA Healthcare Building 27, 3350 La Jolla Village Drive
• 7/17/2018: 12:15 p.m. - 7:15 p.m., Kearny Mesa Blood Donation Center, 4229 Ponderosa Ave. Suite C
• 7/18/2018: 8 a.m. - 2 p.m., Copley Family YMCA, ?4300 El Cajon Blvd.
• 7/18/2018: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m., Dexcom, 6290 Sequence Drive
• 7/18/2018: 12:15 p.m. - 7:15 p.m., Kearny Mesa Blood Donation Center, 4229 Ponderosa Ave. Suite C
• 7/18/2018: 2 p.m. - 8 p.m., Copley Family YMCA, 4300 El Cajon Blvd.
• 7/19/2018: 9 a.m. - 3 p.m., UC Medical Center, 200 West Arbor Drive
• 7/19/2018: 10:45 a.m. - 5:45 p.m., Kearny Mesa Blood Donation Center, 4229 Ponderosa Ave. Suite C
• 7/20/2018: 8:15 a.m. - 3:15 p.m., Kearny Mesa Blood Donation Center, 4229 Ponderosa Ave. Suite C
• 7/20/2018: 9 a.m. - 3 p.m., Circle K, 13007 Camino del Sur
• 7/21/2018: 7:45 a.m. - 3 p.m., Kearny Mesa Blood Donation Center, 4229 Ponderosa Ave. Suite C
• 7/22/2018: 7:45 a.m. - 2:45 p.m., Kearny Mesa Blood Donation Center, 4229 Ponderosa Ave. Suite C
• 7/23/2018: 9 a.m. - 3 p.m., Athens Administrators, 404 Camino del Rio South
• 7/23/2018: 12:15 p.m. - 7:30 p.m., Kearny Mesa Blood Donation Center, 4229 Ponderosa Ave. Suite C
• 7/24/2018: 9 a.m. - 3 p.m., Epsilon, 9525 Towne Centre Drive
• 7/24/2018: 12:15 p.m. - 7:15 p.m., Kearny Mesa Blood Donation Center, 4229 Ponderosa Ave. Suite C
• 7/24/2018: 1 p.m. - 7 p.m., AVA Cortez Hill, 1399 Ninth Ave.
• 7/25/2018: 12:15 p.m. - 7:15 p.m., Kearny Mesa Blood Donation Center, 4229 Ponderosa Ave. Suite C
• 7/26/2018: 1 p.m. - 7 p.m., AVA Pacific Beach, 3883 Ingraham St.
• 7/26/2018: 1:45 p.m. - 5:45 p.m., Kearny Mesa Blood Donation Center, 4229 Ponderosa Ave. Suite C
• 7/27/2018: 8:15 a.m. - 3:15 p.m., Kearny Mesa Blood Donation Center, 4229 Ponderosa Ave. Suite C
• 7/28/2018: 7:45 a.m. - 3 p.m., Kearny Mesa Blood Donation Center, 4229 Ponderosa Ave. Suite C
• 7/29/2018: 7:45 a.m. - 2:45 p.m., Kearny Mesa Blood Donation Center, 4229 Ponderosa Ave. Suite C
• 7/30/2018: 12:15 p.m. - 7:30 p.m., Kearny Mesa Blood Donation Center, 4229 Ponderosa Ave. Suite C
• 7/31/2018: 12:15 p.m. - 7:15 p.m., Kearny Mesa Blood Donation Center, 4229 Ponderosa Ave. Suite C

San Marcos

• 7/11/2018: 9 a.m. - 3 p.m., Palomar College, 1140 W. Mission Road
• 7/12/2018: 9 a.m. - 3 p.m., Palomar College, 1140 W. Mission Road
• 7/19/2018: 12 p.m. - 6 p.m., eaves, 823 Nordahl Road
• 7/22/2018: 8 a.m. - 2 p.m., Hope Worldwide North County Albertsons, 1571 San Elijo Road
• 7/25/2018: 9:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m., Teamwork Athletic Apparel, 1248 Los Vallecitos Blvd.
• 7/26/2018: 9 a.m. - 3 p.m., City of San Marcos City Hall, 1 Civic Center Drive
• 7/30/2018: 11 a.m. - 5 p.m., PIMA Medical Institute, 111 Campus Way
• 7/31/2018: 9 a.m. - 3 p.m., North County Health Services, 150 Valpreda Road

What to Know About Giving Blood

All blood types are needed.

Interested in donating? Use 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, prior to arriving at the blood drive. To get started and learn more, visit redcrossblood.org/RapidPass.

Main image via Shutterstock