There is an urgent need for blood donations in Orange County, with many organizations actively seeking donors to help make up a major shortfall in blood and plasma which has occurred in late 2019. Wherever you choose to donate, you can expect to receive wonderful care during the process, because staff members at all facilities are aware of the urgent need for donations. To find out about any reimbursement for your donation, you should contact the specific facility you’re considering, because all compensation arrangements differ from place to place.

PacifiCord

This facility specializes in banking umbilical cord blood from infants, for use in emergencies which always occur in the future. Most of these have to do with the immune system and the blood system itself, and as with ordinary blood donations, they can be a life-saving thing for some needy individual. Pregnant mothers in Orange County should consider banking their child’s umbilical cord blood so it can help some person who truly needs it at some point later on.

UC Irvine Blood Donor Center

This donation center is situated on a bustling college campus, so you can count on it being professional, as well as comfortable and relaxing. After determining that your iron and hemoglobin levels are high enough for you to donate, you’ll be seated in a comfortable recliner chair where you can go through the whole process relatively quickly. If you have chosen to donate platelets, that will take approximately two hours, but the time will pass quickly, because you’ll be given the opportunity to watch a movie which will occupy your attention.

LifeStream

The facility is open from 7:00 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. every day except Thursday and Sunday. Thursdays are 8:00 to  6:30 p.m., and Sundays are 7:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. The facilities are spotless and very neatly organized, so you’ll be impressed with the layout and the maintenance. You’ll also appreciate how efficient they are at LifeStream, managing to get donors through the blood-giving process in 30 minutes or less, especially if you’ve already filled out the paperwork. You can usually get a gift card for donating, but be advised that they don’t always have them available.

American Red Cross – Santa Ana

The American Red Cross has been managing blood donations for decades now, so they have the routine down pat. That doesn’t mean they ignore you or anything, because the staff members have all been trained about the importance of these donations, so they really do everything possible to treat you right so you’ll come back again. When donating platelets (a longer process), you’ll be able to watch television, and if you’re just donating blood, the time will go by very quickly and pleasantly. The staff is very friendly and accommodating, and you’ll be glad you chose the Red Cross to donate at.