Blood drives set for June in San Luis Obispo
Donors receive $10 gift card, chance to win $5,000
– Blood donations typically drop by the thousands during the summer months, but nonprofit blood services provider Vitalant reminds all eligible donors that patients can’t take a break from needing lifesaving blood transfusions. During June, Vitalant is thanking donors who make time to give blood with a $10 gift card through Donor Rewards and a chance to win one of five $5,000 gift cards in the Summer Adventure Gas Giveaway.
Donors of all blood types are needed, especially those with type O, the most transfused blood type. O-positive is the most common in the U.S. population, and O-negative can be used to help any patient when it’s an emergency and a patient’s blood type isn’t known.
June 14 is World Blood Donor Day, celebrating those committed to making sure there is always enough blood available for patients. Julie Dupray recently donated for the 500th time. She started giving blood about 20 years ago after a friend needed blood. She now donates platelets, a blood component that helps stop bleeding and is often used to help cancer patients. Platelets are constantly in demand because they must be used within a week of donation.
“I feel very fortunate to have good health and enjoy life,” Dupray said. “I send on that good fortune with each and every blood donation. If those of us who can donate, don’t, then who will donate for those in need?”
Most people are eligible to donate and there is no upper age limit. Review updated blood donor eligibility requirements and make an appointment to give at vitalant.org, download and use the Vitalant app, or call (877) 258-4825.
Select Upcoming San Luis Obispo County Blood Drives:
- Sunday, June 2 – Apogee Brewing Company, 12 p.m. – 5 p.m.
- Monday, June 3 – Cal Poly SLO, Dexter Lawn, 9 a.m. – 1 p.m.
- Friday, June 14 – Century 21 Pismo Beach, 11 a.m. – 2:30 p.m.
These are just a few of the over 50 community blood drives being held throughout the Central Coast in June. Donors can also give at the San Luis Obispo donation center at 4119 Broad Street.
Vitalant is one of the nation’s largest nonprofit blood and biotherapies healthcare organizations, providing hospitals and patients across the U.S. a safe blood supply, specialized laboratory services, transfusion medicine expertise, and world-renowned research.
Learn more at vitalant.org.
