There is currently a great need for blood donations both locally and nationally. The City of Irvine and UCI Health are partnering for a blood drive, which will be held September 11 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Irvine Civic Center. The UCI Medical Center is the only Level 1 Trauma Center in Orange County, and transfuses over 1,000 units of blood every month. Cancer patients, people who have experienced severe trauma such as an auto accident, as well as babies in the NICU, make up a high percentage of those receiving blood every day.
Questions about donating? For more information about eligibility, safety, and other common questions about blood drives, please visit the UCI Health Blood Donations page.
Donors will receive a $10 gift card to either Target, In-N-Out Burger, or Starbucks, or a newly designed blood donor T-shirt, and an opportunity to enter a drawing for four passes to Great Park Ice & FivePoint Arena, courtesy of UCI Health. Appointments are suggested but not required, and walk-ins will be accepted. Blood drive will take place from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., September 11.
Eligibility:
Please note that for safety reasons, we are unable to allow children on the bloodmobile. Therefore, please do not bring children who require supervision outside of the bloodmobile. Please read the important COVID-19 information on the appointment request form before making your appointment.
- Be at least 16-17 years of age with parent consent signed. Please refer to appointment website when making an appointment to see current weight and height requirements.
- Be free of cold and flu symptoms (allergies are okay; as are most medications).
- Bring photo ID.
- In addition, we recommend reading the basic donation requirements here.
About UCI Health Blood Donations
UCI Health is Orange County’s only Level I trauma center, National Cancer Institute designated comprehensive cancer center, hematopoietic stem cell/bone marrow transplant program, and high-risk perinatal/neonatal program. Because of this, they transfuse over 1,000 units of blood each month to patients at the UCI Medical Center. Blood can not be manufactured, which means they need at least 1,000 people to donate blood each month in order to meet the needs of people in our community.
Donating blood is a way that everyday people can become local heroes by helping save lives in our community. It only takes about 45 minutes for the entire process. The best way to prepare for a blood donation is to make sure you are really well-hydrated. This means you should start drinking water, juice, or sports drinks 24 hours before your donation and up until about an hour before your appointment. Caffeine can dehydrate you so if you need caffeine, make sure you are also drinking plenty of water. Eat a small meal prior to your donation and wear a comfortable shirt with short sleeves. The UCI Health team will do everything in their power to make sure you have a great blood donation experience. If you’ve never donated blood before, check out our webpage to see if you are eligible.
