The American Red Cross’s urgent need for blood donors has prompted three blood drives to be scheduled in the area.
Monday, July 11 a blood drive will be held at Tyrone’s First Presbyterian Church from 1 to 7 p.m., and another drive is scheduled at Warriors Mark United Methodist Church on Tuesday, July 12 from 1 to 7 p.m.
A blood drive is also scheduled for Saturday, July 16 at the Tyrone Social Center from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
According to its press release, The Greater Alleghenies Region of American Red Cross Blood Services is joining its national headquarters and Red Cross blood regions across the country in issuing an urgent national appeal for blood donations.
In order to meet the needs of hospital patients across the nation, the Red Cross strongly urges anyone who is eligible to give blood to call 1-800-Give-Life as soon as possible to schedule an appointment to donate or visit www.redcrosslife.org or www.givelife.org for a schedule of upcoming area blood drives.
According to the Red Cross, blood donations decline in the summer due to vacations, holidays and everyone’s busy lifestyle in the warm months. The blood shortages are also caused by the absence of high school blood drives and fewer students at college blood drives.
Giving blood takes very little time. Although about 60 percent of the people in America are eligible to donate blood, only five percent do. Anyone at least 17-years-of-age, weighing 105 pounds or more and feeling in good health may be eligible to donate blood.
Individuals with donor eligibility questions should call the nursing collections office at 1-800-542-5663.
