Lake Forest Teams Up With Red Cross To Hold Blood Drive This Week

Lake Forest CA

18 April, 2022

6:50 PM

Description

LAKE FOREST, CA — Lake Forest officials are teaming up with the American Red Cross to host a blood drive on Thursday amid a nationwide blood shortage brought on by the pandemic. Residents can head to the Lake Forest Sports Park anytime from noon to 6 p.m. to roll up their sleeves and donate blood. Sign-ups for the blood drive can be made by visiting the Red Cross website or calling 800-733-2767. The Red Cross said the pandemic led to a 10 percent decline in people donating blood because of canceled drives and staffing shortages. The organization also saw a 62 percent drop in blood drives held at grade schools and colleges. Raahima Shoaib Yazdani, a spokesperson for the American Red Cross' Los Angeles Region, told City News Service in a previous interview that the blood shortage led doctors to prioritize who can get a blood transfusion first. Blood and platelet donations are needed to prevent further delays in medical treatments, and donors, particularly with type O blood, are urged to donate, the Red Cross said. City News Service contributed to this report.