Pechanga Red Cross Blood Drive Seeks 100 Donors
TEMECULA, CA — Pechanga Resort and Casino and the American Red Cross have set a goal of getting 100 or more donors at a community blood drive from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday in the Pechanga Summit Events Center.
The aim is to ensure patients have blood products available for emergency and routine medical care, Pechanga spokesperson Ciara Green said.
Donors who come to give blood will receive thank you incentives such as gas cards, meal certificates, reusable drinking cups, raffle entries and more.
Spots were still available for the blood drive as of Tuesday morning.
The blood drive comes at a time when the Red Cross faces a national blood crisis, according to Green.
"It's the worst blood shortage in over a decade due to many factors, including a 10 percent decline in the number of people donating blood since the pandemic began and ongoing blood drive cancellations," Green said.
To sign up, visit Pechanga.com/community-giving or call 800-RED-CROSS (800-733-2767) and use the sponsor code "Pechanga."
A single blood donation can help save up to three lives. Low blood supplies have forced some hospitals to defer patients from major surgery.
"We thank Pechanga Resort and Casino for hosting a blood drive at a critical time and helping ensure accident victims, cancer patients and others experiencing complications have access to vitally needed blood product transfusions without delay," said Dharma Nichols, Red Cross biomedical services district manager. "Blood cannot be manufactured or stockpiled and can only be made available through the kindness of volunteer donors in our community sharing their good health."
The drive will follow precautions — including face masks for donors and staff, regardless of vaccination status. Donors were asked to schedule an appointment prior to arriving at the drive.
All blood types are needed to ensure a reliable supply for patients.
A blood donor card, driver's license or two other forms of identification are required at check-in.
Donors must be 17 or older (16 with parental consent), weigh at least 110 pounds and in generally good health.
This article originally appeared on the Temecula Patch
