BAKERSFIELD, Calif.(KBAK/KBFX) — The Houchin Community Blood Bank in Kern County faced a critical shortage after winter storms disrupted blood collection and transportation nationwide. The situation became urgent following a massive pileup on eastbound Highway 58 near Towerline Road on Tuesday morning, which left nine people injured and prompted an emergency plea for blood donors.
Gina Salcido, creative development coordinator at the blood bank, emphasized the importance of maintaining a steady supply. “We want to make sure that we are prepared and that we have a steady supply for Kern County,” she said. “The biggest concern was not only being able to supply for the accident, but being able to replenish to keep going.”
Salcido noted that a single person could require up to 80 units of blood, equivalent to an entire blood drive. In response to the crash, the blood bank sent out text alerts and posted on social media, urging people to donate.
The community responded swiftly, with all three donation locations packed and some donors waiting one to two hours.
“In just one day, more than 300 people donated blood,” Salcido said. “We will get around 3 to 400 donors for a whole week coming in house. So that was a week’s worth of donors coming in one single day.”
Donors expressed their motivation to help. One donor said, “I wanted to donate to give back to my community.” Another added, “I want to give back and I want to make sure that I am helping care for people.”
The blood bank is now in a much better position, processing the influx of donations. Salcido remarked, “We’re processing the blood that we’ve received over the last couple days, so it’s definitely put us in a good spot.”…