Los Angeles Red Cross Launches Campaign To Increase Number of Latino Blood Donors
The American Red Cross and the Los Angeles Unified School District on Monday planned to launch a campaign to increase blood donations from Latinos in an effort to improve stores of universal donor type O blood, the Los Angeles Times reports. About 60% of Latinos have type O blood, but according to Julie Juliusson, a spokesperson for the Red Cross in Los Angeles, many are reluctant to give blood because of cultural barriers and a "lack of institutionalized blood donation in Latin American countries," the Times reports. In Southern California, 1% of Latinos donate blood, compared with 4% of non-Latino whites, according to the Red Cross. "If Hispanics donated at the rate of Caucasians, our blood supply need would be absolutely met," Juliusson said, adding that the campaign seeks to help the Los Angeles area become independent of blood supplies from other regions. Officials will work to address some Latinos' fears about donation and correct misinformation while formalizing partnerships with schools, businesses, churches and other organizations, Cliff Numark, director of donor recruitment for the American Red Cross, said. To encourage donation, officials are planning a media effort that will include Spanish-language billboards and television advertisements targeting Latinos (Becerra, Los Angeles Times, 1/5).
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