What Do We Provide to the Community?
As a community blood program, we mean something different to the various constituencies we've been serving since 1948:

To patients, we are the provider of blood to meet their transfusion needs. To blood donors, we provide a safe and convenient opportunity to make a difference for patients in their community and a way to save a life through a volunteer effort. To volunteers, we provide an opportunity to contribute to the community by giving time and talent. To healthcare providers, we are the stewards of a safe and adequate blood supply for their patients. To hospitals, we are a partner chosen to provide healthcare services to the patients they serve.

How can you help?
Many people may not consider their community blood program when they think about essential community services. Like the police or fire department, a community blood program may come to mind only when people need it.

According to a recent report, 95 percent of us will need a blood transfusion by the time we are seventy five years of age. That means that all of us will either need blood, or know someone who will.

You can donate every 8 weeks

You can donate today if:

You are at least 17 years old

You are in good health

You are free of cold & flu symptoms

You ate something before donating

You weigh at least 110 lbs..

Donating blood is SAFE!

Why donate blood?
Blood is vital to the proper functioning of the human body. People who are seriously injured or undergo major surgery lose blood - often half or more of their eight to ten pint total supply. That loss can be fatal if it is not treated quickly by transfusion.

Millions of times each year in the U.S. human blood is required to save the lives of people suffering from accidents and disease. There is no substitute for blood. There is no way to manufacture human blood outside the body. That is why the Blood Bank of the Redwoods plays such a vital role in the healthcare of the region.

Blood is a natural resource that can only be found from one source — VOLUNTEER BLOOD DONORS!

"During the three and one half years of my husband's illness with leukemia, he received many units of blood from the Blood Bank of the Redwoods. Some of the donations were from family and friends, but the majority came from anonymous donors. That is when I learned just how valuable the "Gift of Life," can be. The best way I found to thank all of these donors was to become a blood donor myself. Giving whole blood takes only a few minutes — it is such a valuable gift."