Blood Donors Needed This Weekend at Hermosa Blood Drive

The Hermosa Beach Police Department and the Kiwani's Club are asking for blood donors to help them complete a successful blood drive this Sunday in Hermosa Beach.

The blood drive will be held at the Hermosa Beach Kiwanis Club Hall this Sunday from 9 a.m. until 3 p.m.

According to the American Red Cross, someone needs emergency blood every two seconds in the United States alone, equating to more than 38,000 blood transfusions every single day.

"Blood cannot be manufactured; it must come from generous donors and be used within approximately 42 days of collection so the need is constant," Kiwanis blood drive committee chairman Mickey McRae said in a release. "Further, the gratification is instant," he said. 

Sunday's blood drive is the seventh hosted by the Kiwanis in conjunction with the American Red Cross. Last year's drive collected 30 units of blood, which the Red Cross said may have saved up to 86 lives.

In order to be eligible for Sunday's drive, the donor must be 17 years of age or older, weigh at least 110 pounds and be in good general health. The process of donating blood only takes about 10 minutes, the Kiwanis said.

All donors will receive an American Red Cross t-shirt, a coupon for a free appetizer at Mimi's Cafe and a coupon for two admissions to the Laugh Factory.

To sign up, visit www.redcrossblood.org and enter the sponsor code "hermosakiwanis" or contact blood drive chair Mickey McRae at 310-372-6939 or mickmacr@aol.com.