HUMBOLDT COUNTY, Calif. — As summer travel picks up across the North Coast, the Northern California Community Blood Bank is urging people to donate blood, warning that collections typically drop during the season even as the need for blood remains steady.
“So, 60% of our blood donations come from our Bloodmobile, and right now it’s super important that people donate on them because we do have a 20% decrease in blood collections during the summer months,” said Sierra Carter, a donor recruiter for the Northern California Community Blood Bank.
It has been more than a year since the blood bank launched a new mobile unit in Eureka to expand its reach to donors in rural and hard-to-access areas. The blood bank said it has been using the mobile unit since 06/05/2025.
The organization said the new Bloodmobile has hosted 131 blood drives and collected 1,172 units of blood. It has also reached 237 first-time donors and has appeared at a wide range of community locations, including grocery stores, dispensaries, banks, churches, farmers’ markets, high schools and colleges, summer camps, breweries, hospitals and fire stations.
“So in the last year, we’ve collected over a thousand units of blood on this Bloodmobile. It has traveled as far north as Pelican Bay State Prison, as far east as Hoopa, and all the way down south as Dyerville Loop and Redcrest,” Carter said.
Carter said the blood bank has gained more than 200 new donors in the past year, but said the risk of shortages continues.
“Unfortunately, only 3% of the population is donating, even though 62% of us are eligible to donate. So we’re in constant need of collections,” Carter said.
Carter also described this time of year as “trauma season,” when demand can rise because of an increase in serious injuries.
“Which means there’s an increase in the need because of a lot of highway accidents, due to travel, outdoor activity, trauma and so unfortunately, at the same time when the need has increased, the collections are lower because people are traveling,” Carter said.
The blood bank said bloodmobiles play a critical role in helping hospitals maintain a safe, reliable blood supply by bringing donation opportunities to workplaces, schools, community events and rural areas. The organization said the risk of a blood shortage never goes away because blood is used daily for surgeries, traumatic injuries, cancer treatment and other medical conditions.
The blood bank also has Battle of the Badges coming up on Wednesday, August 12, and encouraged community members to donate at the blood bank at 2524 Harrison Ave., Eureka, CA 95501. The organization encouraged people to check its website to find out if they are eligible.
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