SAN BERNARDINO – LifeStream blood bank, and therefore local hospitals, are critically short of platelets and urges community residents donate this vital blood component to help patients in need.
Platelets, the clotting agent in the blood, is essential for patients battling cancer and other blood diseases. Platelets have a very brief shelf life; transfusion to patients must occur within 5 days of collection so an ongoing supply is critical.
A donation of platelets takes approximately 2 hours to complete from registration to canteen. This time can vary based on the donor.
Those donating platelets on Wednesday, Nov. 28 and Thursday, Nov. 29 receive a $10 gas card.
You can donate platelets every 7 days, up to 24 times per year.
Appointments may be made at the following LifeStream donor centers:
La Quinta, 79-215 Corporate Centre Drive: 10:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesdays; 7 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. all other days. Call 760-777-8844.
San Bernardino, 384 W. Orange Show Road: 7 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday; 6 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday; 10:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Thursday; 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday. Call 909-885-6503.
Riverside, 4006 Van Buren Blvd.: 7 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday; 10:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Thursday; 7 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Sunday. Call 951-687-2530.
Ontario, 1959 E. Fourth St.:9 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Monday; 7 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday; 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Thursday and Sunday. Call 909-987-3158.
Victorville, 12520 Business Center Drive, Bldg. G: 10:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Thursday; 7 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. all other days of the week. Call 760-843-9700.
Murrieta, 40365 Murrieta Hot Springs Road, Ste. C-1: 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday; 11:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. Thursday; 7 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Call 951-973-7777.
To donate platelets, donors must meet the general whole-blood donation requirements. Prior to any apheresis procedure, LifeStream’s trained apheresis team will evaluate the donor to determine if an apheresis donation is possible.
LifeStream provides blood products and services to more than 80 Southern California hospitals. For more information, call 800-879-4484 or visit here.
