LifeStream Blood Bank is in urgent need of blood and platelet donations, according to a post on its Facebook page.
“Platelet donors are urgently needed,” according to the post. “While our platelet supply dwindles every hour, local cancer patients are at risk. Platelets are the clotting agents in our blood. Cancer treatments can cause lowered platelet and red blood cell counts, making these blood products essential to patients fighting cancer.”
LifeStream Blood Bank is in urgent need of platelet donors, the organization said. According to LifeStream, their platelet supply is lowered every hour, putting local cancer patients at risk.
“Platelets are the clotting agents in our blood,” LifeStream said. “Cancer treatments can cause lowered platelet and red blood cell counts, making these blood products essential to patients fighting cancer.”
LifeStream is one of the Inland Empire’s largest blood banks and provides products to more than 80 hospitals throughout Southern California, according to NBC Palm Springs. LifeStream CEO Dr. Rick Axelrod said the summer months place significant strain on the community’s blood supply. Additionally, while platelets are desperately needed, as about 50% of hospital platelet inventory is given to cancer patients, LifeStream’s entire blood inventory has “taken a huge hit this summer.” NBC Palm Springs reported LifeStream has been struggling with low supplies, particularly type O blood types and platelets, since last year.
Donors must be at least 15 years of age, according to LifeStream. However, donors who are 15-16 years old at the time of donation are required to fill out and complete a signed permission form, as well as supply a photo ID with proof of age. The blood donation process, including registration to post-donation refreshments, takes about one hour. However, the blood donation itself only takes about 6-8 minutes, according to LifeStream.
