News from American Red Cross Blood Services, Southern California Region

For more information contact: Teresa Solorio, 909-859-7368

Red Cross Offers "Free Movies For A Year" To Encourage Much Needed Blood Donations

SOUTHERN, CA (04/01/2008; 0900)(readMedia)-- To increase blood and platelet donations and help persistently low blood supply levels, the American Red Cross is offering blood donors a chance to win free movie tickets for a year.

In Southern California, Red Cross inventory levels for type O-negative and type O-positive blood routinely dip to less than a 4-hour supply. Currently, B-negative type blood has less than a one-day supply. These levels are critically low; a minimum five to seven-day supply is generally considered adequate to ensure a reliable supply of blood in the event of an emergency.

To encourage people to give blood in the coming weeks, everyone who signs up to donate blood or platelets at a Southern California Red Cross blood drive in Los Angeles, Orange, San Diego, and Ventura counties during the month of April will be invited to fill out an entry form for a chance to win “Free Movies for a Year.” The prize includes 24 movie tickets from the winner’s favorite theater with a maximum value of $350. The tickets are nontransferable and not redeemable for cash. Entries will be accepted at all Red Cross blood drive locations and will be limited to these counties. The winner will be announced by May 15, 2008. American Red Cross employees are not eligible.

The American Red Cross urgently appeals to Southern California residents to donate blood. Any healthy person age 17 or older (age 16 with written parental consent) and weighing at least 110 pounds may be eligible to donate blood.

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).

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