San Diego Blood Bank will collect donations at the Encinitas SDCCU branch on Tuesday, Sept. 1, as a national blood supply crisis strains local hospitals.
The drive runs from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at 501 N. El Camino Real. It is one of eight drives at San Diego County Credit Union locations across San Diego and Riverside counties timed to the Labor Day holiday, Patch reported.
Blood Bank officials said the region faces extremely low inventory and that donations before the holiday weekend are critical because travel and outdoor activities increase demand for emergency trauma care.
The shortage extends well beyond San Diego. The American Red Cross declared a national blood supply crisis on July 29, only the second such declaration in its history, USA Today reported. At the time, the organization had less than a one-day national supply of type O positive blood. The country's overall supply fell nearly 25 percent in June, reaching a four-year low, Newsweek reported.
The need is urgent.
Extreme heat, poor air quality and widespread foodborne illnesses dampened donor turnout throughout the summer, according to the Red Cross. The stretch from Memorial Day to Labor Day is known in emergency medicine as the "100 Deadly Days of Summer" because road travel and outdoor recreation spike serious injuries.
SDCCU President and CEO Teresa Campbell said the partnership with San Diego Blood Bank has lasted more than 20 years. "Every blood donation plays a vital role in helping local hospitals care for patients in need," Campbell said in a statement.
Donors at the Sept. 1 drive will receive one free ticket to SeaWorld San Diego's Howl-O-Scream event while supplies last, according to SDCCU. Residents can schedule through the San Diego Blood Bank website.
Upcoming community dates:
- Tuesday, Sept. 1: Blood drive at SDCCU, 501 N. El Camino Real, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
- Wednesday, Sept. 9: Encinitas City Council hears traffic study ordinance
