Six blood collection efforts are scheduled this week in multiple locations in the Coachella Valley starting Tuesday.

The events are scheduled for Tuesday, Thursday and Friday at locations scattered around in Palm Springs, La Quinta, Indio, Palm Desert and Rancho Mirage, according to LifeStream Blood Bank, which is organizing the drives.

Two collection locations are slated Tuesday at Our Savior’s Palm Springs, 1020 E. Ramon Road, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., and St. Francis Assisi Church in La Quinta, 47225 Washington St., from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

On Thursday, a drive is scheduled for Palm Springs Airport, 250 N. E Cielo Road, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., and another one at Our Lady of Perpetual Help in Indio, 45-299 Deglet Noor St., from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Two more dates are planned for Friday. The first one will be at Mission Hills Country Club in Rancho Mirage, 34600 Mission Hills Drive, from 7 a.m. to noon, and another at Palm Desert Community Presbyterian Church, 47321 State Hwy. 74, from noon to 5 p.m.

The health crisis has forced the cancellation of more than 80 mobile blood drives throughout Southern California for LifeStream Blood Bank, which is organizing the drive, LifeStream spokesman Don Escalante says.

The canceled drives scheduled for mid-March through the end of May equate to about 5,000 pints of lost blood, he said.

Potential donors must be at least 15 years old, weigh at least 115 pounds and be free from infections or illnesses. Donors must also not be at risk of having AIDS or hepatitis.

Donors under 17 years old must bring written consent from a parent.

Blood collected through donations to LifeStream flows to more than 80 hospitals in Riverside, San Bernardino, Orange, Los Angeles, Ventura and San Diego counties.

For appointments, call 800-879-4484, or visit www.LStream.org.

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