Blood Services

The Greater Long Beach Chapter supports the Southern California Blood Services Region in its efforts to collect nearly 1,200 units of blood each day for area patients. Whether it is an accident victim flown into a trauma unit, a premature infant fighting for the chance to live, or a cancer patient coping with chemotherapy, lifesaving blood is needed by someone in our community every 10 seconds.

Donate blood

You can help save lives by becoming a volunteer blood donor today. If you are at least 17 years old,  weigh a minimum of 110 pounds, are in good health and not at risk for HIV/AIDS, call to make an appointment to donate at a blood donor facility near you.

Sponsor a blood drive

You can help assure there is always enough blood for the sick and injured by organizing a blood drive sponsored by your place of employment or by a community organization, such as your church or school.

For information about sponsoring a blood drive, call 1-800-448-3543.


Become an apheresis donor

Another way you may help children and adults suffering from cancer, leukemia, and aplastic anemia is by becoming an apheresis donor. Like whole blood donation, donating platelets is another way to save a life. Platelets, a blood component, control bleeding by helping blood clot. Many chemotherapy and radiation therapy patients are unable to produce enough platelets on their own. They can suffer life-threatening hemorrhages without platelet transfusions. As the number of transplants at local hospitals increase, so does the need for platelets. Platelets have a short shelf life and must be transfused within five days of their donation.

For information about becoming an apheresis donor, call: 1-888-DROP OF LIFE


Become a potential bone marrow donor

You also may help save the life of someone with a life-threatening disease by joining the National Marrow Donor Program Registry. Members of minority communities are especially needed as potential donors.

For information about becoming a potential marrow donor, visit www.marrow.org