During the summer months, the American Red Cross and other blood banks see a sharp decline in the amount of donors at their blood drives. On average during the summer months, about two fewer donors give blood at each Red Cross drive than what is needed. It if for this reason that the American Red Cross is urging all eligible donors to pitch in an help prevent a blood shortage.
Right now donors with types AB, O negative, B negative and A negative are especially encouraged to donate. Plasma from type AB donors and type O negative blood can be transfused to patients of any blood type. Type B negative and A negative blood can be transfused to Rh-positive or negative patients. These are the blood types that are in highest demand.
Patients are constantly in need of donations and the American Red Cross wants to ensure blood is available for each and every one of those people. You can assist three individuals with just one donation and the process itself takes less than an hour. Local drives are happening all the time, just this month a few are scheduled for the area.
On August 15 from 10 am until 3 pm the Indiana National Guard is hosting a blood drive at 1220 W Madison Street. Culver High School has a drive scheduled for August 27 from 8 am until 2 pm. On August 31 Jefferson Elementary School in Plymouth will have a blood drive from 2 until 6 pm.
In September there are a few drives taking place in the area including one at the Blueberry Festival from 9 am until 6 pm. The other two are scheduled for September 2nd. One will take place in Walkerton at the Lincoln Township Community Building from 1 until 6 pm. The other will be in Bremen at the St. Isidore Hall from 11:30 am until 5 pm.
If none of these dates or times fit into your schedule, at anytime you can enter your zip code into the Red Cross website to find a drive near you. Overall blood donations in the Red Cross Indiana-Ohio Blood Services Region have been approximately 1,500 fewer per month in June and July this year than the previous 10 months of the year. Change the trajectory for the month of August by making a donation and thank you in advance for helping to prevent an emergency shortage. Visit redcrossblood.org for more information or call 1-800-RED CROSS. There are less than 40 days left of summer, make them count by making a difference.
