RANCHO MIRAGE — Five days ago, on Feb. 20, I paid a visit to LifeStream’s recently opened Rancho Mirage Donor Center to donate a unit of blood. It is one of my passions. It is the right thing to do.
Becoming a regular blood donor was a given after a family member needed a life-saving donation of at least seven units of blood. Had it not been for his donors …
I’ve always wondered where it goes, to whom, and whether it helped.
This morning, I received a text message unlike any I have ever received. It was from LifeSteam Blood Bank, which provides blood products and services to more than 80 Southern California hospitals and medical facilities.
Turns out the blood I donated five short days ago was needed for a patient at Menifee Valley Medical Center.
This story is designed to show that people in our own back yard need your help. There is currently a critical shortage.
Blood is needed daily to assist patients in local hospitals and cannot be manufactured. Your donation could be used for cancer treatments, surgeries, organ transplants, newborns, severe burns and trauma.
All volunteer whole blood donors must:
- ♦ Be at least 15 years old
- ♦ Weigh at least 110 pounds and
- ♦ Be in general good health
Young donors are vitally important to the future of blood donation. You may learn about iron and blood donation in teens by clicking here.
All 15- and 16-year-olds require parental consent prior to donating.
One donation at LifeStream can help multiple patients. Following collection, red blood cells, plasma and platelets are separated, stored and distributed separately.
If you are considering a donation, consider that:
- Most donated red blood cells must be used within 42 days of collection.
- 1 in 7 people entering the hospital will need a blood transfusion.
- Less than 10% of the population eligible to donate blood actually does so.
- Every 2 seconds someone needs blood.
- 1 in 7 hospital patients needs blood.
Image Sources
- Text Message from LifeStream: Cindy Uken
- Giving blood: Cindy Uken
