Group Issues Appeal for Blood Donations

Got blood? Good.

United Blood Services, a nonprofit group that is the sole blood provider to every Ventura County hospital, is issuing an appeal for blood donors in preparation for a potentially busy Independence Day holiday weekend.

Although blood stocks are adequate to meet existing needs, the possibility of a shortage always exists at such times, officials said.

“In the summertime, blood donations do drop,” said Patty Hunt, director of community relations for the group.

“A lot of people are traveling. July is a very bad month. If we have a decrease in donations, especially over the weekend, we could actually have a shortage.”

The organization has four blood centers in Ventura County--in Thousand Oaks, Simi Valley, Camarillo and Ventura--that will be open throughout the week, including July 3 and 4.

In addition, from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. today, the group’s bloodmobile will be in the back parking lot of Los Robles Regional Medical Center in Thousand Oaks.

A donation takes about 45 minutes, and donors are asked not to eat a lot of fatty foods before their appointments.

People who have had cancer in the last 10 years, are infected with HIV or have had hepatitis should not donate blood.

To make an appointment or for more information, call (800) 715-3699.