LOS ANGELES, CA (09/16/2008)(readMedia)--

ABC7, 790 KABC, 95.5 KLOS, Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and the American Red Cross join forces to support the patients and the victims of the next disaster and are organizing blood drives throughout Southern California on Wednesday, September 17. Residents are urged to call the American Red Cross at 1-800-GIVE-LIFE to schedule an appointment to donate blood on September 17 or in the coming weeks.

"The American Red Cross shipped hundreds of pints of blood to area hospitals after Friday's Metrolink train crash, at a time when blood supplies were short," says Clifford Numark, director of donor recruitment for American Red Cross Blood Services, Southern California Region. "Since the accident, many pints have been donated, but more is needed to help Southern Californians."

Blood drive locations dedicated in particular to the effort:

Locations

Ronald Reagan Presidential Library

Air Force One Pavilion

40 Presidential Drive Wednesday

Simi Valley, CA 93065

10 a.m. - 4 p.m. ~ Wednesday, Sept. 17

Parker Center-LAPD Headquarters

LAPD Auditorium - 1^st Floor Wednes

150 N. Los Angeles St.

Los Angeles, CA 90012

10 a.m. - 4 p.m. ~ Wednesday, September 17

Red Cross Donor Center

6338 Variel Ave.

Woodland Hills, CA 91367

6 a.m. - 7 p.m. ~ Wednesday, September 17

Red Cross Donor Center

1144 Rosecrans Ave.

Fullerton, CA 92833

6 a.m. - 7 p.m. ~ Wednesday, September 17

Numark continues, "In Southern California, the American Red Cross distributes approximately 1,500 units of blood each day to meet the blood needs of accident victims, cancer patients, premature babies, organ transplant patients and burn victims in our local hospitals. Because it takes two days to process and test the blood, we need people to give blood regularly, so we can be prepared for the next disaster."

The American Red Cross appeals to Southern California residents to donate blood. Giving blood is safe and only takes about 1 to 1/12 hours. Any healthy person age 17 or older (age 16 if accompanied by a parent) and weighing at least 110 pounds may be eligible to donate blood. A driver's license, Red Cross donor card or other picture ID is required.

All eligible donors are asked to schedule an appointment to donate blood by calling 1.800.GIVE.LIFE (1-800-448-3543) or by visiting www.GiveLife.org. To organize a blood drive, call 1.800.491.2113. For Spanish, please call 1.866-POR.VIDA (1.866.767.8432) or visit www.cruzrojaamericana.org

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Posted Tuesday September 16, 2008 at 08:00 am by American Red Cross Blood Services, Southern California Region