Citing “one day blood supply” and “critically low levels”, I.E. residents urged to donate blood

INLAND EMPIRE, Calif. — Citing the ongoing, nearly year-long COVID-19 related pandemic and public health crisis, LifeStream Blood Bank of San Bernardino says they have reached “critically low levels” of blood supply, putting cancer and surgical patients; accident victims, and newborn babies at risk of procedures being canceled due to lack of blood.

“The situation is extremely serious,” Rick Axelrod, MD, LifeStream’s president, CEO and medical director said in a release on their website. “We are very, very low on all blood types.”

“Surgeons can only do so much without an ample blood supply,” Axelrod continued; adding, “On behalf of patients they assist, I implore the community to come forward and help.”

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Dan Ballister, Director of Community Development with LifeStream, today described the “alarming blood shortage”, telling KESQ News Channel 3 this morning just how low their supply of available blood has become; while showing empty shelves he said are normally full.

“Our community is facing a very serious blood shortage. We have very little blood on the shelves,” explained Ballister; who added, “We’re in desperate need of all types of blood.”

KESQ reported this morning that because of the COVID crisis, about 80% of Lifestream’s blood drives have been canceled since schools, churches, or businesses where they typically take place have been shut down, forcing Lifestream to put out the urgent request for blood donations.

Those who have fully recovered from COVID-19 are also urged to donate blood.

“Such donors can help the blood supply now, and subsequently learn whether they can make a future plasma donation to potentially help present-day COVID-19 patients,” said LifeStream officials.

LifeStream adheres to social distancing guidelines and has enhanced already strict cleaning and disinfecting protocols and all potential donors must wear a face covering (mask/coverings with one-way valves to filter outside air are not sufficient), submit to a temperature check, and verbal COVID-19 symptom review before being admitted to the donor waiting area.

All donations are tested for presence of COVID-19 antibodies in the plasma, which can tell a donor if he or she could make a future plasma donation to potentially assist a current COVID-19 patient.

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Appointments are recommended but walk-ins are welcome at all donation locations.

Donors must be at least 15 years of age (15- and 16-year-olds require a signed parental consent form; which is available at all LifeStream locations). Donors also must weigh at least 115 pounds, present current photo ID, and be in good health.

To locate the nearest LifeStream collection site including convenient mobile blood drives, see the list of donation centers below, or go to LStream.org.

LIFESTREAM DONATION CENTERS

• LA QUINTA
  79-215 Corporate Centre Dr.
  La Quinta, CA 92253
  760.777.8844
• MORENO VALLEY MALL
  22500 Town Circle
  Upper Level Near Harkins Theatres
  Moreno Valley, CA 92553
• MURRIETA
  40365 Murrieta Hot Springs Rd., Ste. C-1
  Murrieta, CA 92563
  951.973.7777
• ONTARIO
  1959 E. Fourth St.
  Ontario, CA 91764
  909.987.3158
• RANCHO MIRAGE
  42390 Bob Hope Drive, Suite 1B
  Rancho Mirage, CA 92270
  760.797.8496
• RIVERSIDE
  4006 Van Buren Blvd.
  Riverside, CA 92503
  951.687.2530
• SAN BERNARDINO
  384 W. Orange Show Rd.
  San Bernardino, CA 92408
  909.885.6503
• VICTORVILLE
  12520 Business Center Dr. Bldg. G
  Victorville, CA 92395
  760.843.9700

For more information, visit LifeStream online or call 800-879-4484.

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Contact the writer: [email protected]

Trevor Montgomery, 49, moved in 2017 to the Intermountain area of Shasta County from Riverside County and runs Riverside County News Source (RCNS) and Shasta County News Source (SCNS).

Additionally, he writes or has written for several other news organizations; including Riverside County-based newspapers Valley News, Valley Chronicle, Anza Valley Outlook, and Hemet & San Jacinto Chronicle; the Bonsall/Fallbrook Village News in San Diego County; and Mountain Echo in Shasta County. He is also a regular contributor to Thin Blue Line TV and Law Enforcement News Network and has had his stories featured on news stations throughout the Southern California and North State regions.

Trevor spent 10 years in the U.S. Army as an Orthopedic Specialist before joining the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department in 1998. He was medically retired after losing his leg, breaking his back, and suffering both spinal cord and brain injuries in an off-duty accident. (Click here to see segment of Discovery Channel documentary of Trevor’s accident.)

During his time with the sheriff’s department, Trevor worked at several different stations; including Robert Presley Detention Center, Southwest Station in Temecula, Hemet/Valle Vista Station, Ben Clark Public Safety Training Center, and Lake Elsinore Station; along with other locations.

Trevor’s assignments included Corrections, Patrol, DUI Enforcement, Boat and Personal Water-Craft based Lake Patrol, Off-Road Vehicle Enforcement, Problem Oriented Policing Team, and Personnel/Background Investigations. He finished his career while working as a Sex Crimes and Child Abuse Investigator and was a court-designated expert in child abuse and child sex-related crimes.

Trevor has been married for more than 30 years and was a foster parent to more than 60 children over 13 years. He is now an adoptive parent and his “fluid family” includes 13 children and 18 grandchildren.