Stanford Blood Center Appeals for Type-O, Type-A Donors

2007
Attention News Desk: Press Release (for immediate release)
MEDIA CONTACT:
Michele Hyndman (650) 723-8237
mhyndman@stanford.edu,
Michelle Bussenius (650) 723-8270 or (650) 504-7973
m.bussenius@stanford.edu

STANFORD, Calif. – Area residents with type-O and type-A blood are being asked to donate at the Stanford Blood Center to meet the needs of local hospitals. Blood supplies have remained low since January when post-holiday usage depleted the inventory.

“Stanford Blood Center has struggled to catch up because blood is being shipped to local hospitals faster than we can collect it,” said spokesperson Michele Hyndman.

High demand from local hospitals coupled with a light blood drive schedule in February has made it difficult to replenish the supply. In the last few months, the blood center has made multiple appeals to those already on its roster of donors. “We need people who have not donated with us before to give blood,” Hyndman said.

The Stanford center imported blood from other centers over the last two months to help meet hospital demands, but currently there is a regional shortage. “We are no longer able to buy all of the blood that we need to serve local patients. It is critical that eligible people donate blood immediately,” said Hyndman.

Eligible donors are encouraged to donate at the center’s Palo Alto location at 3373 Hillview Ave. Donors can call (650) 723-7831 or toll-free (888) 723-7831 to make an appointment, learn hours of operation and get directions. Donors should be in good health with no cold or flu symptoms. They must eat well prior to donation, drink fluids and present photo identification at the time of donation. The process takes about an hour.

For more information or to schedule an appointment online, please visit https://bloodcenter-stg.stanford.edu.

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Stanford University Medical Center integrates research, medical education and patient care at its three institutions – Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford Hospital & Clinics and Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital at Stanford. For more information, please visit the Web site of the medical center’s Office of Communication & Public Affairs at http://mednews.stanford.edu.