Join Me to Save Lives

Every day, blood donors help patients of all ages: accident and burn victims, heart surgery and organ transplant patients, and those battling cancer. In fact, every two seconds, someone in the U.S. needs blood. Steve Medina is a Red Cross volunteer serving with the Disaster Action Team, in Mass Care, and recently as a part … Continue reading Join Me to Save Lives

Help the Red Cross prevent a blood shortage

The American Red Cross is calling on blood and platelet donors to make and keep blood or platelet donation appointments to help prevent a shortage that could disrupt patient care. One in 7 patients entering a hospital will need a blood transfusion. Give now to ensure blood products are available for those living with sickle … Continue reading Help the Red Cross prevent a blood shortage

Blood Donations Are Crucial For Patients With Sickle Cell Disease – And You Can Help

1 in 3 African American blood donors are a match for people with sickle cell disease Sickle Cell Awareness Month may be coming to a close, but the work of the American Red Cross initiative to grow the number of blood donors who are Black to help patients with sickle cell disease continues. The Red Cross is teaming up … Continue reading Blood Donations Are Crucial For Patients With Sickle Cell Disease – And You Can Help

Blood Donors are Heroes for Babies

By Eddie Zamora, Kern County & Eastern Sierra Chapter Executive Director The smallest patients need the most specialized care Kim Cantrell has been donating for years at Edwards Airforce base in Kern County with the American Red Cross. After donating blood at a previous blood drive at Edwards, she received a notification and a t-shirt … Continue reading Blood Donors are Heroes for Babies

For patients with sickle cell disease, blood transfusions are essential

Learn why blood transfusions from donors who are Black may provide best outcomes   Seventeen-year-old Demarus Torrence loves comics and sci-fi movies, and like his favorite superheroes, he’s awfully brave himself. Demarus lives with sickle cell disease, the most common inherited blood disorder, which affects about 100,000 people in the U.S.   What is sickle cell disease?  Sickle cell disease makes red blood cells hard and sickle-shaped … Continue reading For patients with sickle cell disease, blood transfusions are essential

From Blood Donor Ambassador to Youth Board Member: Meet ​Noah Tyler U. Tabbay

By Jasmine Segal, Red Cross Communications Volunteer Noah Tyler U. Tabbay began his American Red Cross journey in 2015 at Pacifica High School in Oxnard. He started by assisting the Red Cross Club as Vice President, then went became an active youth volunteer, aiding the organization with on-campus blood drives. But it doesn't end there. … Continue reading From Blood Donor Ambassador to Youth Board Member: Meet ​Noah Tyler U. Tabbay

Driven by Gratitude to Give

By Jon Darius, Red Cross Public Affairs Volunteer  “Gratitude” was the feeling that drove Martin Gonzales to donate blood last summer. After a life-threatening experience that led him to receiving a blood transfusion, Gonzales feels that the main inspiration for donating blood is to give back to those that may have been in the same … Continue reading Driven by Gratitude to Give

Local Church Comes Together to Save Lives; Inspire Others to Give Blood

Newbury Park church partners with American Red Cross to save lives and serve others By Tom Horan, Public Affairs Volunteer While he was still relatively new to being a pastor at Living Oaks Church in Newbury Park, Lead Pastor Austin Axen clearly remembers the devastation that befell his community in November of 2018. “All of … Continue reading Local Church Comes Together to Save Lives; Inspire Others to Give Blood

Red Cross: National blood crisis may put patients at risk 

The American Red Cross is facing a national blood crisis – its worst blood shortage in more than a decade. Dangerously low blood inventory levels are posing a concerning risk to patient care and forcing doctors to make difficult decisions about who receives blood transfusions and who must wait until more blood products become available. … Continue reading Red Cross: National blood crisis may put patients at risk 

Easy as 1 + 1 = 3

by Dave Wagner, Public Affairs Volunteer I had heard that one pint of blood from just one person could save up to three lives. I read that the national emergency blood supply was at its lowest level in more than a decade. I was told that donating my blood would be safe and easy. But … Continue reading Easy as 1 + 1 = 3