Scientology L.A.: Blood Drives Save Lives

A gift of blood is a gift of life.

Los Angeles Children’s Hospital needs some 2,000 units of blood and blood components each month as part of the lifesaving care they provide to children. So with the help of the L.A. Scientology Volunteer Ministers, the Church of Scientology of Los Angeles, located just blocks from the hospital, offered its services and parking lot to promote and organize a blood drive Tuesday. 

Nearly 90 percent of the blood transfused at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles comes from their own donor center. 

“Rarely is enough blood donated to cover patient use,” says the hospital. “There is always a child who needs your blood type.” 

Last week, the U.S. Surgeon General urged healthy Americans to give blood amid warnings of a possible shortage due to canceled blood drives and collections because of the spread of the novel coronavirus. And with thousands of recent blood drive cancellations, the Red Cross estimates donations have declined by more than 150,000.

So the Los Angeles Scientology Volunteer Ministers decided to respond to the call.

While maintaining all guidelines such as social distancing, they encouraged the community to come out during the afternoon to give the gift of blood.

 

Here are some additional facts about blood from the American Red Cross:

• Each year, an estimated 6.8 million people in the U.S. donate blood.
• 13.6 million whole blood and red blood cells are collected in the U.S. in a year.
• About 45% of people in the U.S. have Group O (positive or negative) blood; the proportion is higher among Hispanics (57%) and African Americans (51%).
• Type O negative red cells can be given to patients of all blood types. Because only 7% of people in the U.S. are type O negative, it’s always in great demand and often in short supply.
• Type AB positive plasma can be transfused to patients of all blood types. Since only 3% of people in the U.S. have AB positive blood, this plasma is usually in short supply.
• Red blood cells must be used within 42 days.
• Platelets must be used within just 5 days.

The Church of Scientology Volunteers Minister program is a religious social service created in the mid-1970s by Scientology Founder L. Ron Hubbard. Anyone of any culture or creed may train as a Volunteer Minister and use these tools to help their families and communities. The Church provides free online training on the Volunteer Ministers website.

Watch films based on the tools of the Volunteer Minister on the Scientology Network.