The San Diego Blood Bank put out an urgent call for donors on Thursday, March 4.
The blood bank has hit a critically low blood supply as local hospitals reschedule elective surgeries due to COVID-19 and utilize more blood for standard surgeries, reports CNS.
"We are down to a one/two-day supply of most types, and it's best to keep at least a seven-day supply available," David Wellis, CEO of the San Diego Blood Bank, told CNS. "For various reasons, hospital usage has increased, so we need the community to make an appointment to donate now for local hospital patients that need it."
The bank is looking for all blood types.
To donate blood, you must be at least 17 years old, weigh at least 114 pounds, and be in generally good health.
You can make an appointment to donate blood by calling 619-400-8251 or visiting SanDiegoBloodBank.org.
With the ongoing pandemic, the blood bank is antibody testing every blood donation as part of their regular testing panel to qualify donations for COVID-19 convalescent plasma, according to CNS.
Temperatures are also taken before donors can enter a facility and face masks must be worn inside.
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