Red Cross Blood Shortage Continues: How Escondido Residents Can Help

ESCONDIDO, CA — The American Red Cross continues to experience a national blood and platelet shortage.

The shortage comes after a summer of declining donations and an "active disaster season" that created a "perfect storm" and strained the country's blood supply, according to the nonprofit organization, which provides about 40 percent of the nation's blood. In late summer, the Red Cross national blood supply dropped by about 25 percent.

Escondido residents can help. Donors of all blood types are urgently needed, especially type O blood donors and those giving platelets, according to the Red Cross.

"When blood and platelet supplies drop to critical levels, it makes hospitals and the patients they are treating vulnerable — especially if there is a major accident or emergency medical procedure that requires large quantities of blood during a disaster," said Dr. Baia Lasky, medical director for the Red Cross. "A single car accident victim can use as much as 100 units of blood. By making and keeping donation appointments, donors can help keep hospital shelves stocked with blood products and ensure patients have access to the timely care they deserve."

The Red Cross has planned blood drives across San Diego County, including in Escondido.

Anyone who donates through Oct. 20 will receive a $15 Amazon.com gift card by email.

See a list of upcoming San Diego area blood drives below.

Cardiff

• 10/2/2023: 11 a.m. - 5 p.m., Encinitas Elks Lodge 2243, 1393 Windsor Road

Carlsbad

• 10/5/2023: 9 a.m. - 3:30 p.m., Giaola Italian Kitchen, 2668 Gateway Blvd., #180
• 10/16/2023: 10 a.m. - 4:30 p.m., Jersey Mike’s La Costa, 7625 Via Campanile, Suite 122
• 10/19/2023: 9 a.m. - 3 p.m., Shoppes at Carlsbad, 2525 El Camino Real

Chula Vista

• 10/9/2023: 11:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m., Chula Vista Center, 555 Broadway, Suite 1088
• 10/16/2023: 1 p.m. - 7 p.m., Chula Vista Elks Lodge, 901 Elks Lane

El Cajon

• 10/5/2023: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m., East County Transitional Living Center, 1527 E Main St.

Encinitas

• 10/10/2023: 11:30 a.m. - 6 p.m., American Legion Post 416 Encinitas, 210 W F St.
• 10/11/2023: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m., San Dieguito United Methodist Church, 170 Calle Magdalena
• 10/15/2023: 9:30 a.m. - 4 p.m., Best Buy, 1046 N. El Camino Real
• 10/19/2023: 10:30 a.m. - 5 p.m., Encinitas Library, 540 Cornish Drive

Escondido

• 10/10/2023: 9:30 a.m. - 4 p.m., Escondido Charter High School, 1868 E. Valley Parkway
• 10/12/2023: 9 a.m. - 3 p.m., North Coast Church San Marcos/Escondido, 1451 Montiel Road
• 10/17/2023: 8 a.m. - 2 p.m., Orange Glen High School, 2200 Glenridge Road

Fallbrook

• 10/3/2023: 11 a.m. - 5 p.m., Fallbrook Library, 124 South Mission Road
• 10/18/2023: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m., Christ the King Lutheran Church, 1620 S Stage Coach Lane

La Jolla

• 10/2/2023: 10 a.m. - 4:30 p.m., Dan McKinney Family YMCA, 8355 Cliffridge Ave.

Oceanside

• 10/5/2023: 9 a.m. - 3 p.m., Oceanside First Presbyterian Church, 2001 El Camino Real
• 10/12/2023: 8 a.m. - 7 p.m., Oceanside Masonic Center, 511 Eucalyptus
• 10/19/2023: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m., Courtyard by Marriott San Diego Oceanside, 3501 Seagate Way

Ramona

• 10/3/2023: 8 a.m. - 2 p.m., Ramona High School, 1401 Hanson Lane

San Diego

• Red Cross Kearny Mesa Blood Donation Center, 4229 Ponderosa Ave., Suite C
• (See RedCrossBlood.org for hours)
• 10/2/2023: 8 a.m. - 2:30 p.m., Integrated DNA Technologies, 6828 Nancy Ridge, Suite 400
• 10/3/2023: 9 a.m. - 3:30 p.m., VA San Diego Healthcare, 8875 Aero Drive
• 10/4/2023: 9 a.m. - 3 p.m., Teamsters 542, 4666 Mission Gorge Place
• 10/4/2023: 10 a.m. - 4:30 p.m., KIPJ Garden of the Sky Circle Drive, 5998 Alcala Park Way
• 10/6/2023: 9 a.m. - 3 p.m., Point Loma Nazarene College, 3900 Lomaland Drive
• 10/8/2023: 8 a.m. - 2:30 p.m., Hope Worldwide The Mission at PHHS, 6702 Wandermere Drive
• 10/9/2023: 10 a.m. - 4:30 p.m., San Diego State University Aztec Walk, 5500 Campanile Drive
• 10/10/2023: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m., The US Grant, 326 Broadway
• 10/12/2023: 12 p.m. - 6:30 p.m., SEIU 221, 4004 Kearny Mesa Road
• 10/13/2023: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m., Mission Valley Library, 2123 Fenton Parkway
• 10/15/2023: 9 a.m. - 3:30 p.m., Green Valley Church, 12395 World Trade Drive
• 10/17/2023: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m., American Red Cross Chapter Main Building, 3950 Calle Fortunada
• 10/18/2023: 11:30 a.m. - 6 p.m., Woodstock's Pizza, 6145 El Cajon Blvd.
• 10/19/2023: 10:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m., Cathedral Catholic High School, 5555 Del Mar Heights Road
• 10/20/2023: 9:30 a.m. - 3 p.m., Target Mission Valley, 1288 Camino Del Rio N

San Marcos

• 10/3/2023: 12:30 p.m. - 6:30 p.m., MARC, 1045 Armorlite Drive
• 10/7/2023: 8 a.m. - 2 p.m., The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, 1250 Borden Road
• 10/11/2023: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m., The Lodge at Lake San Marcos, 1105 La Bonita Drive
• 10/11/2023: 9 a.m. - 3 p.m., Mission Hills Church, 400 Mission Hills Court

Solana Beach

• 10/8/2023: 9 a.m. - 3:30 p.m., Calvary Lutheran Church, 424 Via De la Valle

Vista

• 10/4/2023: 12 p.m. - 6 p.m., Vista Library, 700 Eucalyptus Ave.

What To Know About Giving Blood

All blood types are needed. Download the Red Cross Blood Donor App, visit RedCrossBlood.org or call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) for more information or to make an appointment.

A blood donor card or driver's license or two other forms of identification are required at check-in.

Individuals who are 17 in most states (16 with parental consent where allowed by state law), weigh at least 110 pounds and are in generally good health may be eligible to donate blood. High school students and other donors 18 and younger also have to meet certain height and weight requirements.