O negative blood is the universal blood type and Lifestream is asking more people to give blood
The Lifestream Blood team is continuing their 10th annual 9 Cities Blood Drive in the Coachella Valley. Currently, the Coachella Valley is seeing insufficient numbers of individuals giving blood. The lifestream team has created many incentives to get more people involved in sharing their blood consistently.
The blood shortage is nationwide, but in the Coachella Valley, they ask the community to give blood, especially if you are O negative.
We previously covered the blood shortage and are now following up on the Blood Challenge.
"We need people to donate blood, whatever blood type it is," said Martin Arredondo, the Lifestream Regional Account Manager. There is a shortage in all blood types, but "Critically O-negative blood only ten units of blood on the shelf. And hospitals need that for emergencies. And it just desperately needed", said Arredondo.
Lifestream is hosting a nine cities Challenge from July 1 through August 31, where people can walk up and give blood, but Arredondo suggested that people go to their website and set up a website.
Lifestream serves over eighty hospitals in Southern California. And three in the Coachella Valley. Right now, they are measuring their supply of blood in hours. "That means I will be unable to meet the needs of the local hospitals. That's why it's so important that people now support the challenge", said Arredondo.
Mayra Nelas and her sister own the La Quinta Grocery outlet off of Washington Street, and they partnered with Lifestream in the nine cities challenge. "I'm scared of needles, but I always push through it. So it is straightforward, especially when you have a nurse that's calm and helps you like walk you through it", said Mayra Nelas. Even though it makes her nervous, she and her sister decided to do this Challenge together. She mentioned a conversation between her and Arredondo, "Martin had mentioned there was a transplant. I believe I forgot what organ, but they need at least 15 quarts. So today is significant that we at least get the 15 so we could help the person with their transfusion".
At that moment, she knew she could get past the fear of the needle because she had the opportunity to help save someone's life with her blood.
"You could donate blood every 56 days. And if every donor gave two to three times a year, that would maintain our local blood supply", said Arredondo. You will go from an empty bag to a pint full of donated blood in forty-five minutes to an hour. "The few minutes you give to help save a life by donating blood means a lifetime for the person who receives it," said Arredondo.
August 10dnesday, August 10, 2022
Grocery Outlet in La Quinta
9:00 am - 2:00 pm
50929 Washington St, La Quinta, CA
