Blood donators make a difference
Mission Hospital in Mission Viejo has a healthy storage of donated blood thanks in part to the Saddleback students and faculty who donated, confirmed Ed Ferrer – a clinical lab scientist at Mission Hospital.
Five weeks ago, hospitals across the country were facing one of the worst blood shortages in 15 years, according to American Red Cross Nurse Edward Orlobski.
Blood shortages in the summer are common due to people vacationing and lack of students donating blood.
On August 28, Orlobski stated that Mission Hospital in Mission Viejo was 2,000 bags short for the month. Since then, two successful blood drives have been held on the Saddleback campus.
Thanks to those who donated, Mission Hospital now has a healthy surplus of blood that will save the lives of countless patients.
Ferrer is thankful for the efforts of the American Red Cross and all those who donated, but stresses that Mission Hospital can always use more blood donations.
“If [the blood] is in short demand, the American Red Cross usually gets to us straight away to help out,” Ferrer stated, “but we can always use more blood.”
With the flu season approaching, the American Red Cross website reminds donors not to donate if they have flu-like symptoms.
The next blood drive on the Saddleback campus is November 7, from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.