The American Red Cross is urging businesses to delete the letters A, B and O from their logos as a way to raise awareness about blood shortages in the A, B and O blood groups. The effort, #Missing Type, also includes education about blood donation and local blood drives. One sobering fact: Nearly half the population knows someone who has needed a blood transfusion, but only about three percent of adults donate blood each year.
Local donation sites in July are:
July 3: Eagle Rock Plaza, 2700 Colorado Blvd, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
July 26: Eagle Rock Library, 5026 Caspar Avenue, 1 p.m. to 7 p.m.
July 28: Los Angeles Police Department, 3353 San Fernando Road, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
You can drop in to donate blood (it takes about an hour), or schedule an appointment by calling 1-800-RED CROSS or at RedCrossBlood.org/MissingTypes. Bring your blood donor card or your driver’s license or two other forms of identification. To be a blood donor, you generally must be at least 17 years old, weigh at least 110 pounds and be in basic good health.
