Blood Bank Out Of O Negative and O Positive Blood

The shelf holding pouches of O Positive & O Negative  blood at LifeStream Blood Bank is bare.

And the effects of a continuing community blood shortage are being felt by patients throughout Southern California.

2020 is off to a rough start for area blood banks, which typically struggle during the holidays and are also impacted by a bad flu season.

On Thursday January 31st, an Orange County hospital closed its ER and is turning away patients due to lack of blood available for treatment.

Two scheduled liver transplant surgeries in Riverside County will be cancelled if Group O blood supplies are not immediately increased.

Moreno Valley car crash victims were unable to be treated.

A gastrointestinal bleeding patient in Riverside is at risk for reduced care options.

“Group O blood is our  greatest need, but Lifestream CEO and Medical Director Doctor Rick Axelrod is imploring all healthy residents to come to the rescue of these patients and many more who are at risk.”

“This is a critical moment. Don’t assume someone else will take care of it. That’s not helping these patients. Please step up now so we can give surgeons and emergency medical personnel what they need to treat our loved ones, our friends and our neighbors.”

Walk-ins are welcome at all LifeStream donor centers:

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; 

8 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Thursday; 

7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday.

Riverside, 4006 Van Buren Blvd.: 

7 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday;

8 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Thursday; 

7 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Sunday.

Ontario, 1959 E. Fourth St.:

9 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Monday; 

7 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday; 

7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Thursday and Sunday; 

7 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Saturday.

Victorville, 12520 Business Center Drive, Bldg. G:

7 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. daily except Thursday, when hours are 10:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.

La Quinta, 79-215 Corporate Centre Drive: 

7 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. daily except Wednesday, when hours are 10:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Murrieta, 40365 Murrieta Hot Springs Road, 

7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday and Friday; 

7 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Tuesday and Wednesday; 

8 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Thursday; 

7 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.,Saturday and Sunday.

Rancho Mirage, 42390 Bob Hope Drive, Ste. 1B: 

10:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday and Thursday; 

7 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Wednesday, Friday and Saturday.

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.

Photo from Lifestream Blood Bank, San Bernardino CA