Sacramento region’s blood bank urges residents to donate this month amid critical shortage
The Sacramento region’s blood bank issued an urgent request for residents to make donations through July 20, as it is dealing with a critical shortage just as summer road travel kicks into high gear.
“As a blood recipient, I understand what it’s like as a patient to rely on the availability of blood,” Vitalant spokeswoman Victoria Wolfe said. “Blood donors provide what only another human can give, a precious, priceless gift allowing those in need opportunities to experience the most important moments of life.”
Vitalant is in need of all blood types and platelets, Wolfe said, but type O blood is what medical personnel often use when they don’t know a person’s blood type. It is the most transfused of all blood types, she said.
You don’t have to know your blood type to give because Vitalant will assess that and give you a preliminary answer on the spot. Later, if you wish, you can log into a secure Vitalant website to see the lab-confirmed blood type.
The need is so great that Vitalant is giving away grilling aprons and gift cards to get donors through the door. You can get a ‘flippin’ awesome donor ‘apron for donating Friday through July 9 , and if you give from July 10-20, you’ll receive a $5 gift card that is accepted by a wide variety of businesses. You’ll also be entered into a drawing in which you could win one of three $3,000 prepaid gift card.
Interested in donating? Go to vitalant.org, download the Vitalant app, or call 877-258-4825 to schedule an appointment at the closest donation location.
Donors as young as age 16 can give if they have parental consent, and you don’t need to have been vaccinated against COVID-19 to give. If you’ve had COVID-19 and have been symptom-free for 10 days, Vitalant’s leaders said, you can donate. Masks are optional if there are no local regulations requiring them.
There are a number of blood drives coming up this month, including Friday at the Marketplace at Birdcage, 6177 Sunrise Blvd., in Citrus Heights; July 11 at the Wilton Community Center, 9717 Colony Road, in Wilton; July 12 at Kaiser Permanente – Point West, 1650 Response Road, near Sacramento’s Cal Expo; and the Department of Toxic Substance Control, 8800 Cal Center Drive, in Sacramento.
Editor’s note: A photo cutline with this article was updated to correct the age at which minors can begin giving blood. That age is 16, with parental consent.
This story was originally published July 1, 2022 at 11:17 AM.
