Blood donors urged to help restock Red Cross

Though spring has officially arrived, the American Red Cross blood supply is still recovering from severe winter storms in March. Red Cross is urging all donors of all blood types to roll up a sleeve and help save lives.

Winter weather in parts of the country forced more than 270 blood drives to cancel, resulting in over 9,500 uncollected blood and platelet donations in the first two weeks of March. No matter the weather, the need for blood to help cancer patients, those undergoing surgeries, trauma patients and others remains.

Upcoming blood donation opportunities Mar. 20 through Apr. 15 are as follows:

Corona

Apr. 2: 1:30 to 7:30 p.m., Corona Regional Medical Center, 800 S. Main St.

Eastvale

Mar. 26: 2 to 8 p.m., Eastvale Community Center, 13820 Schleisman Rd.

Menifee

Mar. 29: 8:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m., Mt. San Jacinto Community College, 28237 La Piedra Rd.

Apr. 11: 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., Mt. San Jacinto Community College, 28237 La Piedra Rd.

Murrieta

Mar. 30: 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., United Church of the Valley, 24973 Washington Ave.

Apr. 6: 12 to 6 p.m., Rancho Springs Medical Center, 25520 Medical Dr.

Riverside

Mar. 29: 2 to 8 p.m., The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Jurupa, 5950 Serendipity Rd.

Apr. 4: 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., American College of Health Care, 11801 Pierce St., Suite 100

Apr. 6: 2 to 7 p.m., American Red Cross Riverside Chapter, 6235 Rivercrest Dr., Suite A

Apr. 8: 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., Our Lady of Guadalupe Shrine, 2858 Ninth St.

Apr. 9: 7:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m., Riverside Community Hospital, 4445 Magnolia Ave.

Apr. 11: 10 a.m. – 5 p.m., University of California Bell Tower, 900 University Ave.

San Jacinto

Mar. 30: 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., Mount San Jacinto College, 1499 N. State St.

Temecula

Mar. 31: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Wal-Mart, 32225 Hwy 79 South

Apr. 7: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Temecula Valley Hospital, 31700 Temecula Pkwy.

Apr. 13. 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Wal-Mart, 32225 Hwy 79 South

To donate, download the American Red Cross Donor App, visit redcross.com, or call 1-800-733-2767 to make an appointment. All blood types are needed to ensure a reliable supply for patients. A blood donor card or driver’s license or two other forms of identification are required at check-in. Individuals who are 17 years of age in most states (16 with parental consent where allowed by state law), weigh at least 110 pounds and are in generally good health may be eligible to donate blood. High school students and other donors 18 years of age and younger also have to meet certain height and weight requirements.

Blood and platelet donors can save time at their next donation by using RapidPass to complete their pre-donation reading and health history questionnaire online, on the day of their donation, before arriving at the blood drive. To get started, follow the instructions at redcrossblood.org/rapidpass or use the Blood Donor App.

Another way to support the lifesaving mission of the American Red Cross is to become a volunteer transportation specialist and deliver lifesaving blood products to local area hospitals. Volunteer transportation specialists play a very important role in ensuring an ample blood supply for patients in need by transporting blood and blood products. For more information or to apply for a volunteer transportation specialist position, visit rdcrss.org/driver.

The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides emotional support to victims of disasters; supplies about 40 percent of the nation’s blood; teaches skills that save lives; provides international humanitarian aid; and supports military members and their families.

The Red Cross is a not-for-profit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to perform its mission. For more information, visit redcross.org or cruzrojaamericana.org, or visit on Twitter @redcross.