American Red Cross – Fountain Valley Donor Center

This location is great, but be certain to schedule ahead or you end up waiting. The staff is very nice and the receptionist Siretha Parker is amazing… remembers everyone’s name. I have been here about 10 times and they are very consistent. The first visit takes longer, but other wise expect 45 min to an hour. On busy days can go 1.5 hours. Plasma… a bit longer…
Red Cross is a bit over the top with the reminder calls, but you can’t blame them. My tech today — Patricia had more personality than most… She is very good at needle placement… I hate needles… she was very good and near painless…

I would definitely come here again. I’ve been donating blood since I was 18 and this is the first location that I’ve ever wanted to come back. Everything was standard, from the profile check to the resting area but what stood out to me was the sense of community here. Once you become a regular they’ll be calling you by name and there’s a Wall of Fame near the front, where people’s pictures are put up after the reach milestones such as 100 unites donates and such. Save a life and donate a pint [:

I have been coming into this location for a year to do platelet donations. I try to donate once a month I say try because sometimes my blood does not cooperate with me. (I have low iron and hate iron pills). The staff here has been so helpful with me to get my iron under control. They have given me tips everything from food combinations to try and to avoid as well as cooking with a cast iron skillet to raise my iron levels. Still working on the cast iron skillet. Everybody is really friendly and encouraging and legit care about my health
The location is always clean and organized. The staff works as a great team to make sure all of the «patients» are comfortable and happy.
They have a pretty good movie selection and you can bring in your own if you choose. I am currently ½ through watching the Harry Potter Series. Oh and they accept old DVD’s as donations so… I want to rewatch star wars if anybody has copies to donate…
They keep the cold drinks in the fridge, but the warm ones are on the table are there because blood donation makes you vampire cold. Platelets not so much just when it’s going back in.
Oh and let them know your limits, they know that I can do an hour on the machine fine them by and hour 15 they need to start getting the tubes out. so just let them know and they are there to keep you happy and coming back.
One more thing sometimes you get a free movie pass in the mail Oh and check your spam box I recently saw all kinds of free stuff I didn’t know about.
So bottom-​line is this one of the funner activities that I plan monthly, no of course not! But do I feel great about being able to help out in a real way, absolutely. Based on that alone even if you go once and it’s not for you that is better than not ever giving.

I’ve been donating blood for years now, but I’ve only been to this center less than five times. Lots of praise for all the great ladies who have helped me in the past. Today, Michelle Lloyd was really great. She’s just so personable that it makes me feel like parting with my blood is no big deal.
Unfortunately, I was turned away today bc my veins are too thin. Which is fine since this has happened before over the years. I had asked for a second or third opinion about my veins since clearly I’ve donated blood successfully many times before. Marcus was the last person to give his opinion on whether I can try to donate today or not. And instead of just turning me away with a «Sorry, I just don’t feel comfortable poking you since your veins are too thin,» he proceeded to compare my situation to him gambling in Vegas and that if he thinks his chances are ⁴⁰⁄₆₀ then he won’t make the gamble.
I understand his analogy completely; however, it was unnecessary. I was already visibly disappointed that I wouldn’t be able to donate today. I really didn’t need for someone to speak to me in what I perceived to be an extremely condescending manner. I’m not stupid so don’t speak to me as if I am. If you can’t get my vein then just say it. I’ll just keep my blood for next time.

I enjoy coming to this facility. The staff is very kind and friendly. My sisters and I have enjoyed our experiences here :)

Terrible experience. I was turned away and was informed someone would get back to me, no one ever called.

I’ve been donating since I Was 17, that’s 20yrs of lives being saved. I prefer to Donate at this location and am on a first name basis with the majority of the staff.
In my lifetime, I’ve donated over 180 units in Platelets and numerous gallons of blood.
This facility has late hours + weekend hours

Seriously love this place! Ask for Regina! She’s the best if you have tiny or rolling veins!

I give blood regularly, not because something «tragic» happened to me or a loved one, but just because I truly think its one way I can help. I don’t like needles at all. The moment it happens, no matter how many times I have done this before, I still look away and clench my body. Yet it’s for no reason but the sheer anticipation of it all, because in the end it really doesn’t hurt.
The staff here at the American Red Cross are very professional and experienced. They spent quality time with me going over all my vitals and making sure I understood everything I was about to do. The representative that actually took my blood was so nice and gentle. When it was over, they offer a nice sitting area with treats to wait out the 15min. rejuvenation time.
The facility is very clean, professional, and easy to get to. Open most all days of the week. So when you are on a whim to go do something good, check this place out. They offer some great stories on the lives you could be saving.
Stay very hydrated and eat lots of spinach (iron) before you go… and wear a short sleeve shirt!

Before you donate blood, you are given a mini physical exam, where they take your vitals – blood pressure, heart rate, iron count, and body temperature. The last time I went here, I was disappointed by the vocational nurse in the front who auscultated my blood pressure. She improperly measured my blood pressure by placing the diaphragm of the stethoscope in the middle of my forearm, when it should have been placed on the medial side of the bicep, next to the brachial artery. I was 100% sure she fudged my BP numbers, since there was no way she could hear anything for her to determine my systolic and diastolic BP numbers. I didn’t call her out on it though because I knew my blood pressure was normal, but I regret it now that I think about it; her practice could have really harmed a blood donor.
The place was clean and the RN (Sharon I think) in the back was very friendly. Overall, I thought the place was great. However, I will never donate my blood to any American Red Cross again because it doesn’t seem like they care about their donors’ health. They apparently let incompetent people screen potential donors.

Donating blood, It’s a good thing! yay! Clean place to do it, you get yummy cookies and treats afterwards. The only problem i had with this place was the disgruntled workers. Kind of scares me when the person that is stabbing me with a needle hates what they do. But eh, lol get it done with, it’s for the good of humanity.

I love going to this facility! It is easy to get to, and you are immediately greeted with a big smile from Tom and Kristina. The facility is clean, always decorated for the latest holiday, and has awesome post donation snacks :)
Marcus, Wendy, Don and Sandy (among others) run the back, where all the magic happens. They are all so nice and yet professional, making sure that you’re comfortable before the donation process begins (have your favorite pillow, movie, and are sufficiently warm). They check on you all the time to see if you’re ok or need anything… a piece of candy, maybe?
I have come here for several years now, and donate platelets every 3 weeks. I would not dream of going anywhere else. They are like family to me.
If you are going to give the gift of life… do it here :)

The thought of needles used to keep me from donating, but then I had kids. A few months of being treated like a pincushion at the doctor’s office sure did away with that phobia!
After several experiences donating blood through local blood drives at churches, schools, etc. this has been quite a different experience for me. They get you in and out as efficiently and comfortably as possible at this donor center. I’ve never timed it, but I would swear the entire process here takes about half the time on average: it’s quite the streamlined operation.
The facility is clean and the donating stations are unusually comfortable. I’d like to get one of those for my living room at home!
Important pre-​appointment preparations: make sure you are well-​hydrated, and don’t take aspirin within 24 hours before your donation. I also add extra iron supplements during the week leading up to my appointment to ensure that my blood iron count is adequate. Oh, and wear short sleeves :).
Make an appointment! There’s a shortage now.

I know this comes across as really odd … to review a Red Cross donor center. But I really want to throw some praise their way, because THIS girl likes to feel like she’s doing something good once in a while and give some of her bodily fluids to those who really need them. (Gross, but not really.)
Alright, if you’re weird about needles and blood, you might not want to read on.
Anyways, I have freakishly small veins. And I’m not saying that to be like, ooh, I’m so petite and cute, I have small veins. It’s always been a problem when it comes to needles. I have no problem, whatsoever with being stuck, but the times I’ve had blood tests done, or given blood, it always takes AT LEAST two people to get the needle in the right way. Then the blood starts flowing, then stops, then they have to come back and readjust. I’ve attempted to give blood at another facility in Orange County before; I won’t say which. But the woman who put the needle in me saw that the blood started flowing slowly and just told me, it’s not working, you’re not going to make it (you have to be able to pump out a certain amount of blood in a limited time period), and «gave up» on me. She took the needle out and said that was that, sorry you couldn’t finish.
But I’ve given blood at the Fountain Valley center twice now, and both times the staff has gone above and beyond to make sure I could give. The first time, four people came out to help in total, but they made it work. And they even cheered me on. The second time it just took two, but again, they didn’t give up on me.
So I’ll continue to give blood here when I’m able. Thank you to all the staff who have helped me out, even though my veins make me a troublesome donor.

The medical staff can make or break a blood donation experience. This Doner center has the most professional people that I have found in one location. The staff tries very hard to make your donation quick and easy and relaxing as possible. The few times they have to attend to special needs, they seem to be very experienced in handling the situation. Great Staff, very friendly receptionists. Very calming atmosphere. .
And I agree with what the other reviewers said about Kristina. The Platelet receptionist is very efficient and professional; but she is also friendly and interested in making your donation as great as possible. She has been an energetic
wealth of support, and very encouraging to get platelet donors coming back again and again. She is very attentive about Platelet donors request for Movie titles for their Platelet Donor’s Movie Library.

I’ve been donating blood regularly (every two months) for the past… seven years. I love coming to this place because the people are so nice. The volunteers are very into it… there’s the guy I always see at the front every time I come in. he’s just there on days that I just happen to have some time. Very sweet and enthusiastic. The RN… awesome. very sweet and caring. Why only 3 stars?
Some of the nurse practitioners are horrible! They were very cold. There was one who seemed so annoyed by me the whole time while she was doing my blood pressure, checking my veins, etc.
l felt like an inconvenience to have me there in the chair giving blood! At least hide your frustrations at a blood donation center where people are doing good and helping others.
She had trouble poking me with the needle because of long fake nails.

All the Nurses are soo nice! The location is pretty convenient. They are very professional here. I love the volunteers that greet you when you arrive!
Donate when you can!

I have volunteered at this location — and I really enjoyed doing it… for awhile. It was nice to get to know people and see them every chance they were eligible again to donate, coming through the door.
The location is very clean, and most of the staff is friendly. Some of the techs would get upset when people came in to donate close to closing, which I found rude. I know how it feels to want to get off work, but to show your frustration in front of someone coming in to donate blood, and save a life — was not very professional.
One of the supervisors there was also extremely rude to the volunteers. It was what ultimately made me leave there, and not volunteer anymore. Volunteers are unpaid workers, volunteering their time, and for anyone to be less than thankful, is frustrating.
Kristina, works at the front desk — for platelette donations… she is always so friendly and goes above and beyond her job duties to make sure everyone is comfortable, happy and has a great experience.

This location is great! As others have said, it’s bright, professional, and clean. It may be slightly difficult to find on your first visit only because it’s situated within a commercial building block and there is no large, obvious sign. OR, it may have just been me.
Regardless, I recently made an appointment to donate whole blood but because the appointment time was so early, I’m sure I could have just as easily done a walk-​in instead.
I was in the chair within about 15 minutes and my phlebotomist was extremely nice and efficient. There’s a plethora of magazines available but a few of the other donors seemed to be more interested in playing with their phones to pass the time. After your donation, there’s your typical selection of juices, raisins, oreos, cheese nips, nutter butters, and trail mix. Nothing beats a random breakfast like that.
By 10 AM when I left, there were about half a dozen people in the waiting area so I’m assuming it fills up as the day goes on.
As far as ARC locations go, this one is definitely worth the visit.

the staff here is really great. i started donating platelettes at this center. it’s a long process. you lay down and can’t move for nearly 2 hours (some people seem to be able to go faster.) it sounds terrible, not being able to really move for that long, but they have a wide selection of movies and the staff does everything they can to keep you comfortable and entertained. you do something good and get a free movie and relaxing afternoon.