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Community Corner

Blood Drive at LLUCH Tuesday

Mobile unit will be on site from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Loma Linda residents looking to give blood will have the opportunity to do so in their own backyard Tuesday.

The LifeStream mobile unit will be at Loma Linda University Children's Hospital from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. It will also be in the same location July 19, and everyone who gives blood during the month of July will receive a coupon for a free pint of Baskin-Robbins ice cream.

“We have a regular schedule at Loma Linda University Children's Hospital,” said Don Escalante, public relations specialist with LifeStream. “So many people are interested in donating, and we don’t want to pull them away from their work for a terribly long time. It’s usually biweekly, and we pull in perhaps 20 to 30 units at each drive.”

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Whole blood can be donated every eight weeks, and for regular donors, having the mobile unit come to their place of work makes it easier. 

“You’d otherwise have a lot of people missing work,” said Escalante. “It’s out of consideration for the folks who wish to donate.”

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The Loma Linda blood drive is not just for employees of the hospital or university; it is open to the public.

“We have a pretty dedicated group in Loma Linda,” Escalante said.

LifeStream serves more than 70 hospitals in Southern California, including Loma Linda. 

“Whatever is collected at the Loma Linda drive generally stays local, within this region,” Escalante said. “That is a selling point for us, and we emphasize we’re a local, independent community blood bank.”

To be eligible to give at the Loma Linda blood drive, potential donors must be at least 17 years old, weigh a minimum of 110 pounds, and be in general good health. They must also bring with them photo ID.

“Everyone gets a mini-physical, with their pulse, temperature, heart rate, blood pressure and iron level in blood measured,” Escalante said. “If it is too low, they will be deferred. It’s a blood safeguard.”

If the donor is determined to be anemic, the nurses recommend having it checked out. One regular donor went to their doctor after being deferred, and found out he was ill.

“He was in the beginning stages of leukemia,” Escalante said. “Luckily for him he had that test taken at that time, and is doing great now. He’s ready to donate again, and wants to get back in the chair and hop to it.”

Potential donors must also go through a confidential screening.

“They’re asked questions about medications, recent travel and potentially risky behaviors,” Escalante said. “The nurses get frank, but it is only to protect the integrity of blood supply.”

It takes about eight to twelve minutes to donate whole blood.

“Blood collection is as safe as can be,” Escalante said. “A sterile, new needle is used each time. New gloves are used each time. Everything is only used once. There is no chance of contracting any disease by donating blood. That is still kind of a myth, and is completely false. Everything is so carefully regulated, and the newness of instruments is guaranteed.”

Following the procedure, donors can rest in the canteen for 15 minutes.

“We can’t enforce it, but it is a standard of care,” Escalante said. “It’s for their own good. It helps them replenish their system. We have water, juice, coffee, crackers, cookies, healthy type snacks to get them going.”

From registration to sitting in the canteen, it takes about one hour to give blood.

“Our goal when having a drive at a hospital is to keep a steady flow,” Escalante said. “We don’t want people to have to wait in one place or another.”

In the Inland Empire, about 37 percent of the population is eligible to donate; less than 5 percent do.

“If we could bump that up even 1 percent, that would make a big difference in making sure we have a safe and ample supply,” Escalante said. “The blood stays in the community, and helps people whether they’ve been in accidents, are undergoing surgery, are burn victims, or are prematurely born babies. The need never ends.”

Escalante understands that some people might be afraid of needles or feel like they don’t have enough time, but “if people donate once, they get a totally different perspective,” he said. “It’s very self satisfying. You’ve helped save a life.”

Those looking to make an appointment to donate can do so by calling 800-879-4484 or visiting www.lstream.org.

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