Blood donations needed amid holiday season shortage
Winter weather, illness reduce blood donations by 20%
– Vitalant is urging eligible blood donors to step up and donate as travel, seasonal illness, and winter weather have caused a 20% drop in appointments compared to the previous three months. The nonprofit blood and biotherapies organization emphasized that blood donations are essential for patients undergoing surgeries, cancer treatments, and other medical procedures that continue during the holiday season.
To encourage donations, Vitalant is offering a 90s-themed T-shirt and a $15 gift card through its donor rewards program for all who donate through Jan. 7. January is also National Blood Donor Month, a time to highlight the ongoing need for blood donations during the winter.
Upcoming San Luis Obispo County blood drives are as follows:
- Dec. 26: Pismo Beach, California Fresh Market, 2:30 p.m. – 6 p.m.
- Dec. 29: Paso Robles, Highlands Church, 9 a.m. – 12 p.m.
- Dec. 30: Atascadero, Colony Park Community Center, 10 a.m. – 1 p.m.
- Jan. 2: Nipomo Community Center, 9:30 a.m. – 1 p.m.
- Jan. 4: Paso Robles, Walmart, 11 a.m. – 3 p.m.
- Jan. 7: Arroyo Grande Hospital, 9 a.m. – 1 p.m.
- Jan. 8: Atascadero, Wild Fields Brewhouse, 9 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Donors can also give blood at the Vitalant San Luis Obispo donation center, located at 4119 Broad Street, or at any other community blood drive.
Vitalant is one of the nation’s largest nonprofit blood and biotherapies healthcare organizations, providing hospitals and patients across the U.S. with a safe blood supply, specialized laboratory services, transfusion medicine expertise, and research. The organization’s mission relies on the generosity of blood donors, volunteers, and financial supporters.
More information is available at vitalant.org. Donors can also download and use the Vitalant blood donor app or call (877) 258-4825.
