Urgent Need for Blood Donations at Antelope Valley Medical Center

Community encouraged to donate during COVID-19

(LANCASTER, Calif. — April 3, 2020) — Antelope Valley Medical Center (AV Hospital) is sending out an urgent call for healthy community members to donate blood. Donations are down as people shelter-in-place during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

“As the only Level 2 Trauma Center in the region, we must maintain an adequate blood supply for our patients,” said CEO Ed Mirzabegian. “We encourage those who are healthy and able to donate at this time.”

The AV Hospital Blood Donor Center is complying with guidelines set by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), such as spacing chairs six feet apart, moderating the number of donors in the Center at one time, adhering to thorough cleaning practices and encouraging people to make appointments ahead of time instead of walking in to donate.

Giving blood is safe, easy and takes less than an hour. A person must be at least 17 years old, weigh 110 pounds or more (16 years old with written parent/guardian consent and weigh 120 pounds or more), be in good health (no colds, flu, infections or unstable health conditions) and not have given blood in the last eight weeks. First time donors must present a picture ID (driver’s license or state ID card).

Those interested in donating can make an appointment by calling the Blood Donor Center at 661‑949‑5622. It is located on the 3rd floor of the Antelope Valley Outpatient Imaging Center, 44105 15th Street West, Suite 305.

About Antelope Valley Medical Center

Antelope Valley Medical Center, the only full-service, acute-care hospital in the Antelope Valley, has been delivering exceptional care to the community for nearly 65 years. It offers the region’s only trauma center, pediatric unit, NICU, inpatient mental health care, labor and delivery, Accredited Chest Pain

Center/STEMI Receiving Center, Advanced Primary Stroke Center and Comprehensive Community Cancer Center. More information is available at www.AVMC.org or by calling 661-949-5000. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram @antelopevalleyhospital.

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