The Los Cabos Community Alliance has launched a Community Blood Bank to tackle a chronic blood shortage in the municipality, delivering a mobile donation unit on June 15 at the Centro de Rehabilitación e Inclusión Infantil Teletón (CRIT) in Los Cabos.
The nearest blood supply has been more than two hours away in La Paz, creating dangerous delays during emergencies. The new program aims to bring donation drives directly to hotels, businesses, and neighborhoods across the Los Cabos corridor using the mobile unit.
A Coalition of Local Foundations
Andrés Tanaka, director of the Community Blood Bank’s medical team, said the project will serve as a central coordination hub for all blood drives in the area. Gay Thatcher, the bank’s executive director, and Korey Ricks, representing the Los Cabos Community Alliance, joined Tanaka at the launch event.
Five foundations are backing the effort: Los Cabos Children’s Foundation, El Dorado Foundation, Chileno Bay Foundation, Twin Dolphin Foundation, and Fundación Questro. These organizations contributed funding and plan to promote volunteer donations among their own staff and communities. Marisa Comella, director of Los Cabos Children’s Foundation, helped lead the handover ceremony alongside Asiel Arce Arcillas, director of the state blood transfusion center (Centro Estatal de Transfusión Sanguínea), and Jaime Bolívar, general director of CRIT Los Cabos.
Targeting the Hotel and Tourism Workforce
Andrea Núñez, operations manager at Fundación Questro, said a primary goal is making blood donation accessible to hotel and tourism workers. That sector employs a large share of the local workforce and represents a major untapped pool of potential donors.
The blood bank will work in collaboration with the ATM Blood Bank, conducting drives, educating potential donors, and maintaining a registry of volunteers and their blood types. A digital platform is under development to publicize upcoming drives and allow residents to sign up.
Responding to a Growing Crisis
Los Cabos has experienced rapid population growth alongside a rise in traffic accidents and medical emergencies. Organizers say those trends have made the blood shortage more acute. The alliance’s long-term goal is building a permanent network of volunteer donors capable of meeting the municipality’s transfusion needs without relying on supplies from La Paz.
The program was first reported by Cabo Mil Radio and Tribuna de México.