BAKERSFIELD, Calif. — Each and every month, around 1,500 to 2,000 blood donations provided to Houchin Community Blood Bank are transfused in Kern County. These transfusions save the lives of people fighting cancer, mothers with delivery complications, surgery patients and trauma victims.

Since the outbreak of Coronavirus disease in the U.S., the AABB Inter-organizational Task Force on Domestic Disasters and Acts of Terrorism, in coordination with Houchin Community Blood Bank and many of the country’s other blood collection establishments, has been monitoring the evolving public health situation.

As part of these increased efforts, the Task Force and Houchin Community Blood Bank strongly encourage healthy, eligible individuals to continue donating blood to maintain an adequate blood supply for patients in need that rely on the generosity of donors every day.

If the outbreak of Coronavirus continues to spread, additional challenges may arise, which could potentially reduce the number of eligible donors. Since it is the blood already on the shelves that saves lives, maintaining a sufficient blood supply is essential to ensure patients in need receive optimal treatment.