Blood Donors Needed During Holiday Period

A spokeswoman for the Orange County chapter of the American Red Cross said Tuesday that blood drives this time of year are critical because donations typically decrease about 50% in December and January, when illness keeps people from giving.

“It’s a time when we have a consistent need for blood,� said Judy Iannaccone, spokeswoman for the international organization. “This is a particularly challenging time of year.�

After the first of the new year, there is an increased demand for blood as people have elective surgeries that they postponed for the holidays, Iannaccone said.

The public may participate in a blood drive today at Light of the Canyon Methodist Church, 101 S. Chaparral Court. The campaign is being sponsored by the Anaheim Hills Rotary Club, its first blood drive.

George Gillespie, a Rotary member and chairman of the drive, said Tuesday that 88 people, about a third of them church members, had signed up to donate blood.

The blood drive will be from 3 to 8:15 p.m. at the church, near Roosevelt Road and Kaiser Boulevard adjacent to Anaheim Hills Festival shopping center. Information: (714) 222-4014.

Anyone 17 or older who weighs at least 110 pounds and is in good health may donate blood.

To make an appointment to donate blood or arrange to sponsor a blood drive, call the Red Cross at (800) 448-3543.

Other December blood drives across Orange County will be Monday at Family Fitness Center, 9627 Chapman Ave., Garden Grove, (714) 537-3000; Tuesday at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 27976 Marguerite Parkway, Mission Viejo, (714) 770-5387; and Dec. 27 at St. John Neumann Catholic Church, 5101 Alton Parkway, Irvine, (714) 752-6633.