LifeStream Blood Bank is completely out of O positive blood, and in very short supply of O negative, A negative and B negative blood, putting patients’ well-being at peril.
O positive is the blood type most commonly used to treat surgical and cancer patients, accident, burn and trauma victims, and even newborn babies.
And “negatives need negatives,” so patients with negative blood types who require blood transfusions are impacted by the shortage of O, A and B negative blood.
“Our situation mirrors the nationwide shortage of blood available on hospital shelves,” Dr. Rick Axelrod, LifeStream’s president/CEO and medical director, said. “So we’re on our own. And if we don’t step up now, the consequences will first be felt by emergency patients most desperately in need of life- sustaining sustenance.”
LifeStream has a number of donor promotions and giveaways in effect; for more information visit LStream.org.
All who can help are asked to step forward at this critical time to ensure patients’ needs are met. The closest LifeStream to Redlands is in San Bernardino at 384 W. Orange Show Road. Walk-ins are welcome from 7 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday; 6 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday; 8 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Thursday; and 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday.
Donors must be at least 15 years of age (15- and 16-year-olds require a signed parental consent form; the form is available at all LifeStream locations); weigh at least 110 pounds, and be in good health.
To set an appointment and locate convenient mobile drive locations, call 800-879-4484 or go to LStream.org.
LifeStream provides blood products and services to more than 80 Southern California hospitals. —Press release courtesy of LifeStream
Posted: Jan. 7, 2020