LAPD’s Local Annual Blood Drives Coincide with Red Cross Emergency Call

In July, the American Red Cross, noting that summer tends to be a slow season for blood donations, declared a nationwide “severe shortage” of donated blood, and put out an emergency call for new donors.

“Patients don’t get a summer break from the need for lifesaving treatments, so it is critical that hospitals have access to blood products each and every day,” said Alana Mauger, spokeswoman of the Penn Jersey Blood Services Region, in a news release quoted by USA Today.

According to the Red Cross statement, Type O donations are the most needed. “Type O positive is the most transfused blood type and can be given to patients with any Rh-positive blood type. Type O negative is the universal blood type and can be given to any patient. It’s what emergency room personnel reach for when there is no time to determine the blood type of patients in the most serious situations.”

This year, the Los Angeles Police Department’s annual West Bureau Blood Drives, held in cooperation with Cedars Sinai, are providing a timely response to the national need, with several local drives being held between August 22 and September 4.  Remaining events include:

Thursday, August 23 (TODAY!), 2-8 p.m.
LAPD Hollywood Division
1358 N. Wilcox

Tuesday, August 28, 12-6 p.m.
West Los Angeles Division
1663 Butler Ave.

Wednesday, August 29, 2-8 p.m.
LAPD Pacific Division
12312 Culver Blvd.

Tuesday, September 4, 10:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
LAPD Wilshire & West Traffic Division
4861 W. Venice Blvd.

To sign up, see contact information for each location in the graphic below, or register online at https://www.donatebloodcedars.org/index.cfm

As always, donors will receive juice, cookies and the satisfaction that comes from being a true lifesaver…as well as a T-shirt or ice cream coupon.  And if that’s not enough, the Red Cross is also offering $5 Amazon gift cards to everyone who donates before August 30.

If you’re qualified (see below for these and other details), it’s a great opportunity to get involved and be a real-life hero – please consider donating!