Hermosa Hosts Blood Drive for Second Time

If you have an hour to spare on Sunday, Hermosa resident Candy Ayllon-McPhail wants your blood, for a charitable cause, of course.

Ayllon-McPhail has organized the city's second blood drive of the year, which takes place at Jamba Juice near the corner of Pier Avenue & PCH, running from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. And walk-ins are welcome, she said.

For anyone who has considered participating in a local volunteer effort but hasn't been able to find the time, a blood drive offers the perfect chance to give back without the time commitment, according to Ayllon-McPhail.  

In just an hour, a typical donor is able to give about a pint of blood, and up to three lives can be saved from a single pint. 

"With less than hour's worth of time a donor can make a huge difference in the lives of others," Ayllon-McPhail said.    

While many people are naturally wary of donating blood — there's the pain from needles and possibly fainting — a few simple techniques are able to quell most people's fears. 

A nutritious meal and drinking a lot of water before donating prevents the risk of fainting.  And the dreaded sharp objects are easy to ignore by implementing music as a means to distract attention from the donation process.

Hermosa resident Tom Horton donated blood at the drive in June and found the experience to be completely smooth and comfortable.

"It was hassle-free, easy, friendly, and painless," he said.

Ayllon-McPhail was inspired to partner with Providence Blood Center to bring a blood drive to Hermosa after she donated blood in Redondo Beach. The Redondo organizers told her that previous blood drives in Hermosa had resulted in low turnouts. 

"I couldn't believe it," Ayllon-McPhail told Patch back in June. "I think Hermosa can do better than that.'"

This continued effort to bring a blood drive to town was appreciated by Horton who said that having the drive nearby adds an extra level of convenience for local donors.

"Having it so close to home makes it very easy and quick," he said.

All the blood collected at Sunday's drive will stay in the community as well. It will be given to Providence Little Company of Mary Medical Center. 

"The goal is 25 pints," Ayllon-McPhail said about the amount of blood she hopes to give to the medical center. "But we certainly will be happy with higher numbers."

Community members who wish to donate blood on Sunday can make an appointment online, which will allow for faster donation times.