With blood supply remaining consistently low throughout the COVID-19 pandemic and World Blood Donor Day coming up Monday, Cedars-Sinai urged Angelenos Friday to visit one of seven blood drives the hospital has scheduled throughout the Southland over a one-week period beginning Sunday.
“Throughout the pandemic, many organizations like schools, churches and large companies haven't been hosting blood drives like they used to, which has created a consistent shortage,” said Armando Romero, associate director of Blood Donor Services at Cedars-Sinai.
Romero added that the need for blood increases over summer, as more Americans are traveling and not visiting the blood drives that are open during the pandemic.
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“While many of us go on vacation during the summer, the need for blood donations never goes on vacation,” Romero said.
The American Red Cross reports that only 3% of Americans donate blood.
Cedars-Sinai will host seven blood drives at a different location from Sunday through the following Sunday, except for Thursday.
The locations are:
-- Sunday at the Sofitel Los Angeles at Beverly Hills, 8555 Beverly Blvd. from 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.;
-- Monday at the Westchester Elks Lodge, 8025 W. Manchester Ave. in Playa del Rey from 1:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.;
-- Tuesday at the MA Center, 128 Catalina Ave. in Redondo Beach from 10:15 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.;
-- Wednesday at the Northridge Fashion Center, 9301 Tampa Ave. from 3 p.m. to 9 p.m.;
-- Friday, June 18 at LAX Coastal Chamber of Commerce, 9100 S. Sepulveda Blvd. #210 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.;
-- Saturday, June 19 at A.V. Saving Lives in Summer, 2723 Rancho Vista Blvd. in Palmdale from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; and
-- Sunday, June 20 at Mount Sinai Memorial Parks, 5950 Forest Lawn Drive in Hollywood Hills from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
The blood drives will accommodate social distancing guidelines and people are required to wear face coverings at all times. Donors will be prescreened for COVID-19.
People interested in donating blood can check their eligibility at https://ceda.rs/3gfvsZB.
