TEMECULA, Calif. – (August 8, 2016) – With blood centers across the region and the nation facing a major summer shortage, Pechanga Resort & Casino is responding with a blood drive happening Tuesday, August 9 from 8:00a.m. to 6:00p.m. The drop in blood donations that typically happens during the summer has been compounded by the threat of the Zika virus, according to officials at the San Diego Blood Bank that services the Temecula area. The Pechanga blood drive on August 9 is open to the public. There are 100 people signed up to give blood so far. The blood community encourages individuals to schedule an appointment or just walk in. All blood types are needed.
“Maintaining a safe and adequate blood supply is critical to the nation’s public health and a priority for the medical community,” said Miriam A. Markowitz, CEO of AABB. “Every two seconds, someone in the U.S. needs blood. It is indispensable and required in the treatment of millions of patients, including individuals with cancer and other life-threatening diseases, patients undergoing organ transplants and trauma victims.”
Blood bank officials also say that if a catastrophic event such as the December 2 San Bernardino attack or the Orlando nightclub shooting were to hit the region, they may not have enough blood. Twenty percent of the blood donations that come in during the year are due to high school and college blood drives within the San Diego and Temecula Valley region. Students off from school, as well as individuals on summer vacation, drastically impact blood supplies. Now blood banks across the country are also dealing with the effects of the Zika virus. Potential donors who have traveled to Mexico and other central and South American countries must wait at least 28 days before giving blood.
Donors who give blood at the August 9th Pechanga event will receive refreshments and will be entered to win valuable gift cards to popular merchants such as Papa John’s and more. To be eligible to donate blood, you must be at least 17 years old (15 and 16 year olds may donate with parental consent), weigh at least 114 pounds and be in general good health. Eligible blood donors may schedule an appointment to give by visiting SanDiegoBloodBank.org or calling 1-800-4-MY-SDBB (1-800-469-7322).