The American Red Cross in Peoria is hoping to prevent the summer shortage of blood that typically comes as area residents go on vacation. The local chapter is seeing fewer appointments at its blood donation centers and blood drives.
American Red Cross spokesman Ben Corey says the organization tends to see a major decline in donations in June, July, and August. But he says potential donors should know the need for blood doesn’t diminish.
“Every two seconds, someone in American needs a lifesaving blood transfusion. The Red Cross must collect 15,000 blood donations every day to meet the needs of patients at approximately 2700 hospitals and transfusion centers across the country.”
Corey says the Heart of America region that covers Illinois, eastern Iowa and parts of Missouri needs 500 pints of blood every day to meet the needs of area medical centers. The Red Cross is especially in need of blood donors with types O negative, B negative and A negative.
Visit redcrossblood.orgor call 1-800-RED CROSS to make an appointment to donate blood.