Dignity Health Central Coast Hospital Blood Drives Collect Enough Donations to Save 1,485 Lives

Hospitals held twelve blood drives during the COVID-19 pandemic, collecting 495 units of blood in total

CENTRAL COAST, CA – June 14, 2021 – After partnering with Vitalant to host twelve successful blood drives at Arroyo Grande Community Hospital (AGCH), French Hospital Medical Center (FHMC), and Marian Regional Medical Center (MRMC), Dignity Health Central Coast hospitals announced that enough blood was collected to save up to 1,485 lives.

Dignity Health and Vitalant collaborated throughout the COVID-19 pandemic in a proactive effort to encourage community members to donate blood to bolster the critical blood shortage – a process that takes only an hour, and can save up to three lives. 

At a time when many were cancelling due to COVID-10 fears and regulations, Dignity Health was eager to make safe accommodations to hold life-saving blood drives at each of its hospitals, offering both employees and community members to donate in a safe and sanitary environment. 

Throughout the pandemic, many of the blood drives held at local schools, churches, community groups, and religious institutions - which represent more than 60% of the nation’s blood supply – were all but cancelled, and were critical to health care in our country.

In the wake of COVID-19, Vitalant continues to urge groups to organize blood drives and individuals to continue donating blood, unless local public health officials specifically direct otherwise.

Donations from O-negative donors, the universal blood type, are especially important. The current O-negative blood supply sits at an approximate two-day supply, which is half of the ideal quantity needed to support patient needs. Additionally, platelet donations, which have a shelf-life of only five days, are always in high demand. However, donors of all types are needed. 

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About Dignity Health Central Coast 
Dignity Health Central Coast is comprised of five award-winning hospitals, all recognized for their quality of care, safety and service, primary care offices, premier ambulatory surgery centers, technologically advanced imaging centers, outpatient services, and comprehensive home health services. Hospitals are supported by an active philanthropic Foundation to provide additional funding to support new programs and services, as well as to advance the community’s access to health care.  For more information, visit dignityhealth.org/central-coast.

About Vitalant
Vitalant is one of the nation’s oldest and largest nonprofit community blood service providers, supplying comprehensive transfusion medicine services for nearly 1,000 hospitals and health care partners for patients in need across 40 states. Vitalant inspires local communities to serve the needs of others and transform lives through the selfless act of donating blood. Every day, almost 5,000 blood donations are needed to meet the needs of people throughout the country, and Vitalant’s 780,000 donors supply 1.8 million donations a year. In addition to blood products, Vitalant offers customers transfusion services, medical consulting, quality guidance, ongoing education, research and more. For more information and to schedule a donation, visit vitalant.org or call (877) 258-4825 (877-25-VITAL).