Central Coast blood supplier declares emergency shortage. Here’s where to donate
Central Coast blood supplier Vitalant declared a blood emergency Monday as its blood reserve continues to deplete.
Vitalant, which is headquartered in Phoenix, Arizona, provides blood to 22 hospitals and health facilities along the Central Coast, according to a news release.
Since the start of summer, the nonprofit organization’s blood supply has dropped by nearly 50%, the release said.
Vitalant urged community members to make an appointment to donate before the Labor Day holiday weekend, when typically fewer donors are available.
“Hospitals need people to donate during these critical weeks,” Vitalant chief medical and scientific officer Dr. Ralph Vassallo said in the release.
Type O blood, the most frequently transfused blood type, is down to a one-day supply, Vitalant said. Donations for people with all blood types are needed to reach a four-day supply.
“Patient blood needs don’t conform to a predictable schedule,” Vassallo said in the release. “Several patients may experience emergencies, while a planned surgery could suddenly require dozens of units of blood for one patient. Hospitals must have blood available to take care of everyone.”
Federal eligibility requirements for blood donation change
The federal Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently changed eligibility requirements for donations, the release said.
Before, potential blood donors who traveled to France, Ireland or the United Kingdom were ineligible due to the risk of a variant of Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease, more commonly known as mad cow disease, the release said.
Today, people who recently traveled to the United Kingdom and France are eligible to donate blood.
“We are eager to welcome those donors who have recently become eligible to give blood due to the FDA’s updated guidance,” Susan Noone, Vitalant regional director, said in the release.
“We also encourage everyone who at one time may have been told they couldn’t give blood to take another look at current eligibility requirements, as this is just one of several updates over the past few years,” Noone said.
Vitalant outlines eligibility requirements on its website, vitalant.org/blood-donation-requirements.
SLO County blood drives and donation centers
Here’s where and when: blood donation drives will be held in San Luis Obispo County in coming days.
- Tuesday: Noon to 4 p.m. Century 21 Hometown Realty, 6755 El Camino Real, Atascadero
- Wednesday: 2 to 5 p.m. California Fresh Market, 555 5 Cities Drive, Pismo Beach
- Wednesday: 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., Broken Earth Winery, 1650 Ramada Drive, Paso Robles
- Thursday: Noon to 5 p.m. Cambria Pine Lodge, 2905 Burton Drive, Cambria
- Friday: 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. BHGRE Haven Properties, 1880 Santa Barbara Ave., San Luis Obispo
- Sunday: 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. First Christian Church, 1550 S. College Drive, Santa Maria
- Aug. 31: 1 to 7 p.m. KSBY, 1772 Calle Joaquin, San Luis Obispo
Donors can also visit the Vitalant donation centers at 4119 Broad St. in San Luis Obispo and 1770 S. Broadway in Santa Maria,
Potential donors can visit vitalant.org, download the Vitalant app or call 877-25-VITAL to make an appointment or confirm eligibility.
Vitalant is giving donors a $6 prepaid gift card, redeemable by email, the release said.
Donors will also be entered to win one of five $3,000 prepaid gift cards.
