Hermosa Beach Kiwanis Club Urgently Needs Donors

PRESS RELEASE

For Immediate Release

2/10/14

Contact: Jane Walker

Director of Public Relations

Kiwanis Club of Hermosa Beach

Phone: 310-937-1821

Cell: 310-977-1414

Fax: 310-376-8057

DONORS URGENTLY NEEDED FOR BLOOD DRIVE HOSTED BY THE KIWANIS CLUB OF HERMOSA BEACH

Hermosa Beach, Ca…..The Kiwanis Club of Hermosa Beach is hosting a Blood Drive on Sunday, February 16 from 9:00 AM to 3:00PM at the Kiwanis Club Hall located at 2515 Valley Drive, Hermosa Beach, Ca. The Drive is sponsored by the American Red Cross who, since 1940, has been supplying approximately forty percent of the nation’s blood supply.

"Severe winter weather across much of the US has continued to impact the blood supply. Since January, nearly 600 American Red Cross blood drives have been cancelled in 26 states and the result is a shortfall of nearly 20,000 blood and platelet donations. Right now, blood products are being distributed to hospitals as quickly as donations are coming in," said Kiwanis Blood Drive Committee Chairman Mickey McRae.

Kiwanis President, Mark Goldstein, emphasized the importance of this blood drive to the community and explained that, according to Red Cross statistics, every two seconds someone in the US needs blood due to a life-threatening illness, serious injury, or accident. More than 38,000 blood transfusions are needed every day.

For example, more than one million new people are diagnosed with cancer each year and many of them will need blood, sometimes daily during their chemotherapy treatment. Incredibly, a single car accident victim can require as many as one hundred pints of blood.

"Blood cannot be manufactured, it must come from generous donors and be used within approximately 42 days of collection so the need is constant," said Chairman McRae. "Further, the gratification is instant." he added.

The Red Cross makes blood available to any patient who needs it---patients are not required to find donors to replace the blood they use - a common practice in Europe and some US blood banks. This allows the patient and their family to focus on recovery.

"This is the ninth Blood Drive we worked on with the Hermosa Beach Kiwanis Club. Each whole blood unit saves up to 3 lives," said Beach Cities Red Cross Donor Resources Development spokesperson Alice Lan. "We encourage everyone who is eligible to sign up," she added.

Eligibility requirements are only that a person must be 17 years or older, weigh at least 110 lbs. and be in good general health. The process itself is simple; it only takes approximately ten minutes and is completely safe. A sterile needle is used only once for each donor and then discarded.

To make your life saving appointment, go to www.redcrossblood.org and enter sponsor code: hermosakiwanis or contact Mickey McRae at 310-372-6939 or mickmacr@aol.com. Identification is required to donate.

All donors will receive a voucher for discounted tickets to select Anaheim ducks hockey games at the Honda Center.

Please help save a life.