It was my first time donating blood and I had an overall good experience. The staff was gentle and helpful explaining each step Of the process. I generally have low Blood pressure so I felt very weak and faint afterwards but I will try it again. I'm very squeamish with needles but it was not any scarier than giving a blood draw and relatively painless. read more

I was in the area working and had a fair amount of time between some jobs. So I figured I'd stop by as it looked like they weren't that crazy busy. I'm constantly getting phone calls to donate blood, ok so let go in and get stabbed with a needle for a great cause. I was asked if I had an appointment? Replied no I do not, the counter lady asked the manager or someone if they could take me? Nope sorry appointment is required, INTERESTING.... They call me to get my blood and playlets. Was kind of put off with this. Guess I will go to another place. Or just go and sell my plasma! Great organization, doing a great job for those in need. But I won't be going back to this particular Blood donation center read more

horrible. Don't get your lifeguard certification here, the online course is hell on earth and completely unnecessary.

Dear American Red Cross Team, I'm writing to share my recent experiences at the Long Beach donation center--not out of anger, but from a place of concern and a genuine desire to continue giving blood. I've been a regular donor for the past few years and have always appreciated the professionalism of your staff. However, my last two visits have left me disheartened. On one occasion, a phlebotomist inserted the cannula through my vein and into the surrounding muscle--something I've never experienced in 65 years. The pain and resulting bruising were significant enough to make me question whether I would return. Today, I took time off work, drove in traffic on a hot afternoon, and arrived eager to donate. During my vitals check, my heart rate was 106, which surprised me. The nurse said she'd let me sit, but returned in less than two minutes and, because my heart rate hadn't dropped, told me I could not donate. The room was nearly empty. I believe with a little more patience--perhaps 10-15 minutes to cool off--I would have been able to donate safely. Instead, I was dismissed based on a rigid interpretation of the guidelines without room for clinical judgment. I've tolerated frequent calls asking me to donate platelets or Power Reds, even though I've always indicated I prefer to give whole blood. I've tried to be supportive and flexible. But treatment like this makes me hesitant to return--not because I don't want to help, but because I no longer know whether I'll be treated with care and discernment or end up feeling like just another number. I offer this feedback in the spirit of compassion and mutual respect. I hope it can be used to improve the donor experience for others and perhaps rebuild trust with longtime donors like myself. Sincerely, David Long Beach, CA read more

10/05/23 - Thursday I think this was my second time donating blood at this location. They only do the platelets by appointment only. I donated a whole blood earlier! read more

American Red Cross - 10/05/23 - Community Service/Non-Profit Near Me - Long Beach, California

As of 2/27/21, when I donated blood at this particular American Red Cross, this location has an overall 3 stars. This rating is accurate. I've donated at makeshift blood banks that were better than this brick and mortar. POSITIVES + nice staff & volunteers + free parking + free snacks & drinks after your donation + everything is wiped down as soon as donors leave the area + clothes & shoes donation receptical NEGATIVES - somewhat confusing signage... all donors including whole blood donors were to "follow the blue line on the floor to the back of the building." They meant ground, not floor. The faded, half-existant blue line doesn't lead right up to the door for entry. You'll probably figure it out, though. - not very inviting - not only do you check your temperature at the entrance via a touchless camera-like piece of equipment, but you'll also be prompted to lift your tongue for an under-the-tongue thermometer... duplicity during COVID-19 may very well be necessary, but then again, is it really? - grungy, worn-down facility with one bathroom at the back for all to share... definitely could be worse, but could easily be better too Haratch and Armand were the two main workers who assisted me. Five stars to them. The facility could use some love. read more

American Red Cross - Donated bc I'm heathy & wanted to be brave and potentially helpful to others during the COVID-19 pandemic 2/27/21 - Community Service/Non-Profit Near Me - Long Beach, California

I always have a great experience when I come here, whether it's as a backup or as an actual donor. The staff is always extremely friendly and they have top notch snacks. Not much more to say other than that and not really any photos to post, but definitely recommend coming here to donate! read more

Great environment. The staff were very helpful and kind. They checked in regularly and were attentive.

staff is pretty bad can't find the vein and blames it on you. 1/5 overall bc i can't give 0/5

I'm writing this review as a blood donor. First time at this location which is situated right next to the 405 freeway. Directions came from an email to access the classroom from the back of the building. I was confused when I read "classroom" but now get it as I read other reviews as to what else takes place in this building. There are parking spots in the back and looks to be the storage for the Red Cross trailers and mobile units. They are limiting how many people can be inside the room at one time. I had to wait outside but not too long. I was disappointed to see how uninviting the grounds appear. The building and surroundings are a little run down. There were some plastic chairs outside that were quite dirty. Under tongue temperature was taken at the door and name checked off. Questionnaire and hemoglobin test was administered by a gentleman named Andre. He's been with the Red Cross for 16 years, works at all the locations, and drives the Red Cross bus. He made sure I was okay throughout the process of blood being drawn and afterwards when I was hanging out. This goes for any location; the process runs smoother if you answer the questionnaire via the Blood Donor app on the day of your appointment. You can pull up your donor card for them to scan the barcode instead of having to show your ID. Antibodies test results show up in the app in less than a week. read more

Computers and systems are slow or unresponsive when getting checked in at no fault of the staff. Red Cross system is faulty, won't allow incorrect information to be corrected so couldn't donate today. Staff are always polite and kind. read more

This is probably my third time coming here. I know I don't donate as much as I should =P But I haven't had any problems with either the staff or the process itself. Granted that I only went for probably most common (Whole Blood Donation). This site also offers platelets donation as well. The experience is as expected. Nothing out of the ordinary. Staff were courteous and no attitudes were given. Typical snacks and drinks are offered in the rest area to help people re-energize and rest before leaving. Parking wasn't a problem I would donate here again! read more

I had an appointment and ended up getting called in after an hour and a half. Mind you, it was only me and one other older gentleman waiting. There were multiple workers so it wasn't a short staff issue. Fast forward to me donating blood - I typically donate 2-3 times a year and I HAVE NEVER EVER gotten someone who stuck me so terrible with a needle before in my life. Check out the picture. -1000/10. There are better places to go. There is not one good thing I can say about this place. read more

American Red Cross - Community Service/Non-Profit Near Me - Long Beach, California

DO NOT COME HERE FOR YOUR CNA TEST. GO TO SANTA ANA IF YOU CAN. The proctor for your written exam is a nice woman but the RN who is the proctor for the skills, ELCEDO BRADLEY, is the most coldest, rudest lady alive. She will not make you comfortable for your test and her attitude towards testers are just to make you feel intimidated. Every time I had a question to clarify the skill, (we were encouraged to ask questions to clarify the situation) she would just look at me like I was stupid and answer in a cold tone almost scoffing at me. She Insulted my personality on the way out of the door and it was extremely uncalled for. Here's a tip: they make you come 30 minutes early but will not open the door until 8:00am and will scream at you when you try to enter?? The entrance isn't at the front of the building, you have to follow some blue tape to the back of the sketchy building only to get yelled at. Registration takes almost two hours so you won't test until around 10. The ladies running this testing center are cold and rude and most definitely not a representation of what Red Cross should be. I mean what did I expect, they do run off of donations and will be a ruthless cold-hearted person to you if you're not giving them money. read more

I can say I feel assured that I can save a life somewhere maybe on some yelp event when someone else is choking for dear life! I feel so comfortable to do it just because of what great classes and teaching was given at this location. The class started from 8:00A.M - 5:00 P.M I signed up to get certified in: Standard First Aid AED- Adult CPR- Adult CPR- Child CPR- Infant All these classes were in a pretty large group of people and also the test that is given after each section is an oral one by the teacher. Simple and also you will have to be able to perform CPR on the fake dummy. I signed up online which was really simple and wasn't at all hard but to find this class was a little bit on the confusing side. But just ask someone in the front to direct where to go! We did also get a 30 min. lunch break and a two 10 min breaks. Everything was learning and practice and also watching videos made it more comfortable! :) The certificate is going to be given to you after the class and you will have it printed out and it won't expire till 2 years ! :) Take a class to save a life. read more

American Red Cross - Community Service/Non-Profit Near Me - Long Beach, California

My son & I attended a blood drive at the Aquarium of the Pacific. The nurses were amazing, my son felt very at ease giving blood for his 1st time. read more

I am so distraught. I walked out of the Red cross teary eyes because of incompetent LVNs. They stuck me 2 times in my left arm because the LVN infiltrated my left antecubital vein she first tried to use. She then attempted to use my left wrist which hurts more than other places on the arm. Because I was donating platelets, they needed two needles. For the second IV access she used my right arm. She attempted to use my right ac which was repositioned multiple times (each reposition is like multiple needle sticks) and after an hour of just trying to get me started she apologized and said it's not working and will have to send me home. Let me give you some background about myself. I have been a RN for 4 years working in the intensive care unit and oncology floor. I know first hand how important blood products are. To put into context, on the oncology floor patients stay at least 30 days for chemotherapy treatment. On average each cancer patient requires 2 units of platelets and red blood cells every other day....which is a total of 30 units per 30 days. Now.... Knowing that, it makes me angry that they hire incompetent people to do this job. The platelets could have saved 2 lives. Not only was I poked and prodded multiple times today but I am disappointed in the red cross. I wish someone would reach out to me because this is unacceptable. They need to have competencies and trainings for their LVNs read more

Today was my first time donating (plasma) and I had a wonderful experience! Staff was very friendly upon arrival. They checked my temperature, made sure I sanitized my hands and gave me material to read about the donation process. When I was called back to the donation area, they asked me a few questions, took vitals and checked my iron and veins. They calmed my nerves and everything went smooth. It didn't even hurt when she poked me. She explained what I needed to do and even gave me a blanket. After the process was done, I was able to grab a snack, beverage and received a voucher for a free entree to wahoo's. Definitely coming back! read more

I survived the Las Vegas mass shooting on October 1, 2017. When I asked a therapist what most survivors do on the 'anniversary' date, she gave me examples but told me to do what I felt honored that day. I felt that giving blood was the best way to honor the 58 lost, so I made my appointment for October 1, 2018. I was a bit emotional and Patricia was so understanding and so patient. I'll never forget her calm demeanor and kindness that day. She made my donation appointment as painless as possible (all the way around) and I made another appointment on my birthday. I hope to come and donate every October 1st and every birthday from here on out...and every so often in between! A huge thanks to Patricia for her 'bedside manner' a few months ago. Great staff definitely makes the process much easier and is very much appreciated! read more

American Red Cross - #vegasstrong #countrystrong #58strong - Community Service/Non-Profit Near Me - Long Beach, California

I attended American Red Cross for their NAT (Nursing Assistant Training) Program as a prerequisite to complete my registered nursing program. This class is $1500/30 days. In the thirty days, students manage to complete 71 hours of theory (lecture) and 100 hours of clinical rotation: two weeks of lecture, two weeks of clinical. The instructors Liz, LVN, and Elaine, LVN, are very knowledgeable about the field of nursing. That much I can attest. However, the program is a joke. The program director, the structure, everything. And don't even get me started on the clinical rotation. Everyone will meet up at Long Beach Care Center, a convalescent home located only a few minutes from the back alley where lecture classes are held the first fifteen days, from the hours of 7:30 AM 2:30 PM, where you will shadow some of the most burned out, self loathing, abusive nursing assistants for an entire two weeks. Now, get this--if you pass clinical, (yes, somehow you can fail the clinical rotation, according to Red Cross) after that, the you will return to the little shack upstairs where a pitiful graduation ceremony will be held. You will sit down, you smile when presented your certificate of completion and pretend that you have not been counting down the days until the end of the program from Day 1. After this, and again, if you pass, (and you can actually fail the state board examination, as 30% of my class did the first attempt despite American Red Cross' alleged 99% passing rate), you wear your Kool Aid pants just one last time to sit for the boards, where you will scramble to unlearn all of the bad practices and unsanitary procedures that you witnessed under your CNA at the convalescent home that will have you fail the examination, if replicated. Personally, you'd be better off saving your money and taking the class elsewhere. read more

American Red Cross - State board exam. - Community Service/Non-Profit Near Me - Long Beach, California

Very nice staff. Clean facility. I've donated here a few times and always had an enjoyable experience

If there was a negative rating I would do it, call for a class and they automatically took extra money from my account. MAKE sure to look at your account after you get a class, they tend to take extra money from your account and play dumb when you ask for a refund. read more

There was hardly a wait when we went to donate blood. We got in about 30-45 minutes before their closing time and they still took us. I had made an appointment for myself but when my friends wanted to come too, I just called them on our way over and of course they said it would be fine if my friends donate blood too. You answer a health questionnaire and they draw blood from your finger to test your iron and once you pass, they set you up to donate blood. the whole process was quick. Afterward, there are juices and snacks on a table by the side where you can replenish your blood sugar. read more

American Red Cross - Community Service/Non-Profit Near Me - Long Beach, California

I went for a Leukopack appt this morning. Loretta helped me and she was wonderful! Daisy is also a wonderful nurse that has helped me several times! They are always professional. They are remodeling the location, it is very clean and inviting. read more

Super friendly. Always making sure I am okay. Movie selection is insane. They also have Netflix. I give platelets so these things are very important. Snacks and juice are yummy. I literally have not had a less than great experience. read more

American Red Cross - 2018 - Community Service/Non-Profit Near Me - Long Beach, California

I signed up CPR class scheduled 6.16.19 09:00-09:45 AM I went red cross long beach last Sunday(6.16) morning 09:00 Nobody mean instructor showed up There are 7 people waited for 1 hour to take CPR class Until now 6.18 Nobody call or e mail about that incident I called them to asked but no explain whatsoever So disappointed read more

They are not DISABILITY friendly. My wife/caregiver was told she could not accompany me while donating. Is this even legal or, because it's private, they can discriminate?! I'm confused and saddened that now they will be down a healthy and willing donor read more

***This review is specifically for the Nurse Assistant Training (NAT) program. I was looking to get my CNA license and after doing my research, I decided to go with American Red Cross. Initially, the reason why I picked this location were because of how easy it was to sign up. I went to ROP in Santa Ana and Costa Mesa, but both location either required new students to pass a paid assessment or to take a prerequisite course that would take 3 months and $400 to complete. ARC was a bit further for me but it was quick and easy to register, the cost of the program was also competitive. Quite honestly, I had no idea what to expect out of the class. I just needed to get the training so I could pass the exam. As it turned out, this was one of the best experience I've had in the nursing field. Our class of 15 got the honor to be taught by two extraordinary individuals, Ms. Liz and Ms. Elaine. First day, I was intimidated by the instructor (shout out to Ms. Liz!!!). She is a straight-forward, no nonsense kind of person. I soon found out she was the best teacher! She is there to help you succeed. She is a passionate nurse and a dedicated teacher. I cannot say enough good things about her. Ms. Elaine, who was co-teaching, is also a very kind and funny person. She really went the extra mile to make sure the students were well-prepared for the exam. I also had the best classmates! Everyone came from different backgrounds and was there for different reasons but we all worked together so hard for 28 days straight (very intense but rewarding). I honestly have to say that this class prepared me for my next step in nursing. This was definitely the moment I found out what nursing is all about and that I could handle the grossest stuff to help another human being. Nothing is nicer than knowing that! Thank you American Red Cross, Long Beach! read more

Fraud fraud fraud came her to take my cna exam I passed the written but failed the skills test because the proctor said I didn't accurately record the pulse. this facility is making up all kinds of rules and then failing people to get extra money in fees. We were there from 8:00 am to 6:00 pm with little to no break it was like being held hostage. This facility is fraudulent and should be investigated ASAP. read more

Don't go here to get your CNA state exam Horrible place terrible proctor and license evaluator sucks! Their gonna make you wait a long hours just to get your written and skills test done. We started at 8:30am and finished by 3-4pm an extra 30 min waiting to get ur test result. Slow as f^)k Test given at 10:30am skills given and performed at 2:15pm a long hours for just 7-8 people. !!!!!!! smh they don't deserve star at all! read more

Wow, can't believe that no one reviewed the Red Cross yet. Me with a scant 200some reviews and I get another rare first with the Red Cross, go figure, I'll take it. Was here today for CPR/AED and first aid training, as I'm trying to get into the security field and more certifications is always a good thing. Made my reservation and paid my $60 online, which was fairly straightforward. Parked in front, b/c you couldn't park in the back...that was reserved for staff and donors. Instructor was an energetic gal who is an EMT, which helps b/c most of the people that were here (mostly 20something gals) had that "I so do not want to be here" look in there eyes, suffice to say they didn't participate much in class. Hell, I'm on my day off taking a class. At least I tried to inject a little humor and volunteered for a couple activities, seeing as everyone else had the "There's no way in hell I'm volunteering" or the "I so do not want to be here" look. Cowards. Last time I took the class was at least 25 years ago when I was in Scouts, but little has changed. Direct pressure is still the same. You don't say the "H-word" (Heimlich), b/c its a copy write issue...try "abdominal thrust". I did a couple other things that made the instructor take notice and give me the "When the hell's the last time you took a CPR class?" look. Hey, it was a long time ago, we didn't have to deal with mouth shields and worry about all sorts of infectious crap...yah, so, I'm a dinosaur. We had a gal leave the class after 5-10minutes, guess the class wasn't her cup of tea...and I don't know if the Red Cross issues refunds. Another guy had a family emergency and had to split, but the instructor took his info, so I guess he got some credit for time served. Highlight of the day was the pastrami burger, Frings and Mountain Dew I had at the Golden Eagle. 2-star deduction for parking (at least you can park on 29th St.) and the fact I had to pretty much blow my usual Thursday night off to go to a class, b/c going to a class without sufficient sleep or even a .5 degree hangover is no bueno. read more

Went to this facility for my CNA state exam. 18 people to register: an hour 30 mins. 18 people to hand wash: an hour 30 mins. Split the group into skills only and both written and skills. Skills only: 11 Both: 7 Written exam group took the test. 2 hour window. Cut off time was 1230. We all finish by 11:30 and we wait until 3 doing absolutely nothing waiting for our skills to begin. Mind you, it took them from 10:30 until 2:30 to finish 11 people doing skills. With 7 people in the second group, they finished us within an hour 30 mins. Two of the evaluators were cold as ice which made me resent the facility even more. Completely inefficient. Waste of time. You don't need to keep us there until 5 just because you say to expect to be there from 8-5. Please stop taking your sweet time when it is completely possible to finish everything earlier. Are you paid hourly? I don't know. Regardless. read more

My company requires us to stay current on CPR and First Aid certifications so I did a little research. I found Red Cross' Online/class room courses fit exactly what OSHA required. What I really liked is that the majority of the course can be completed online when or where ever I want. For the classroom portion I chose the Long Beach location (closest to my place). My instructor was extremely informative and plesant making the class easy. The class portion was over quickly (about an hour) and we recieve our certification about 24hrs later (or less). Over all inwould recommend Red Cross CPR/First Aid certification to anyone who is looking for an alternative to sitting in a 4 hr class. I will absolutely be returning for my next renewal! read more

American Red Cross - Community Service/Non-Profit Near Me - Long Beach, California

After being away for a few years, I returned yesterday for apheresis or in lay terms, platelets donation. This is a process that takes about an hour to an hour and a half to complete. Thus, the time at the center is about 2 hours with check-in, preparation, and recovery. As soon as I entered, I was greeted by a pleasant young man at the door. I told him I had an appointment for apheresis. He handed me a booklet of required reading but didn't tell me which area to wait in. I ended up sitting in the whole blood donation area, which was about 10 feet from him and in full view of his station. Mind you, all donors used to sit in the same area of the center the last time I donated. A technician checked me in and after about 15 mins he realized that I was actually there for apheresis, not whole blood. He explained that I was sitting in the whole blood area, which was the reason for his confusion. I replied that I was sitting there because that's where all donors used to sit, regardless of procedure - and the receptionist didn't tell me otherwise. As we walked over to the apheresis side, there was a woman at the central counter who told me that the next time I came in, I should sit on the apheresis side. Yeah, got that, lady. I didn't appreciate that this was the FIRST thing she said to me - no greeting, no thank you for coming in, etc. She had assumed that I sat in the whole blood area and that her receptionist did everything correctly. I'm disappointed about the way that I was addressed by this woman in that she was somewhat abrupt with her presuming that it was my fault that I sat on the whole blood side. I believe that the receptionist needs to be trained to listen to donors, ask questions if in doubt about something, and to direct donors as to what to do upon arrival. Really simple, really. The woman could also use some training in customer service. The technician who started the needle with me asked me which arm I usually have this done with. I replied the right arm. She studied my veins a bit then muttered, "I don't like the way these look. They look too small." I said nothing because that's her job to figure it out. When she finally got the needle in - with some difficulty - she said under her breath, "I don't know if this is going to work." It was only after about 10 mins or so that another technician came over, re-directed the needle in my vein without any pain, and was able to get it right. Please note that I've never had problems with my veins - either arm. I do want to donate platelets again one day. But I'm not sure if I can take another experience of feeling somewhat like "cattle." The staff there used to be very engaged and talked with donors like we really mattered. You'd constantly hear "thank you's" almost as a means of saying hello to you before they asked you about something else. Example: "Thank you for coming in. How does that feel?" or "Thank you for donating today. Please sit for 15 minutes and have some snacks." Yes, little things still mean a lot for what I think is a lot for a donation: 2 hours of my time and platelets to help save lives. read more

Hooray for donating blood! Hooray for good deeds! Hooray for the awesome nurses with amazing personalities and great senses of humor. Hooray for the kindly gentlemen who volunteer in their spare time to sit at the back table and make sure you're eating enough crackers, cookies, and drinking enough juices. Hooray all around! read more

Trust the reviews!! Do not go here to do your CNA exam! They will fail you for sure the first time!! They just want to make money!

I know the Red Cross provides a variety of services, but this review is primarily on my blood donation experiences. So if you live close to this branch, I strongly suggest you stop by soon to make a blood donation. I donated blood about 12 times, I would say 1/2 of those donations was @ Red Cross LB. I'll occasionally donate @ Angel Stadium when they're giving away free Angel tickets, but aside from that, I just go to Long Beach baby! They have good volunteers and their entire staff is great. I always have a positive experience there. The smooth old skool r&b jams play in the background, so you might catch them singing a verse or two (in tune). They have great personalities too! I'm always laughing; they tend to joke around a lot. Before you know it, BAM, your donation is already done! My donation routine is so basic and simple! I'm not gunna lie, I'm there soley for the free snacks & drinks now. They told me not to be shy so I go to town on those goodies!!! I sure do love Nutter Butters and those cute little Welch's juice cans. Oh yeah, and saving lives is fantastic as well. This is the closest thing to being a Super Hero. So be an American and spare a pint of that red gold. You get a cool sticker, if that helps. Plus you get tickets or a gift certifcate just for donating......DO IT~!!! PS - They always found the vein. read more

If I could give this place negative stars, I would. I came here on 1/26 for the CNA exam. I am a second semester RN student in a BSN program that was challenging the CNA exam. Bottom line, I was failed for the gait belt being "too high", when it was NOT. The evaluators were awful, cold as ice, and rude!!!! I showed up at 8AM and it took an hour and a half for check in. Half the students there were retesting, even ones that had taken the course with the Red Cross. They were there for a second time to pay their $65 again. Sounds like a money-making scheme to me! The evaluators, once again, were the rudest I've ever experienced. If you're going to wear "RN" on your shirt, you should be representing the nursing profession in a positive way. As others said, the testing takes FOREVER. I was there from 8-5. No phone, no food, can't leave the building. DO NOT go to this location for testing. read more

Adult & Pediatric CPR / First Aid training with Instructor Taryin was great. I've been CPR certified before and this was the best training I've been part of. It was very informative as Tarying kept providing examples and suggestions on how to provide assistance to others and reduce the possibilities of being sued, which is very possible in California where everybody sues everybody all the time. I had seen AED videos in other classes but the fact that she had the training type available to show us how it works was pretty cool. I paid way more for coming here but I felt that it was better to give my $ to an organization that helps us all than a private medical company. When I left the training I felt like I got my money's worth. read more

I've been donating at this location for many years and today was the WORST!!!! After being quarantined at home for months I'm NOT going to risk REMOVING MY MASK inside the building. They took temp at the door with forehead device and then asked that I sanitize my hands. Good stuff, right? Then I went into one of the little rooms with a Red Cross employee and she asked me the normal verification questions. Pulse check, good. Then she brought out the oral temperature device and said I'd have to remove my mask. NO WAY I'm taking off that mask inside the building with all those people in there. They're demented. read more