The American Red Cross urges the public to donate blood in the final weeks of summer to help prevent a blood shortage.
Blood donations decline in August as summer vacations and back-to-school activities ramp up.
Donations are needed to help ensure blood is available for patients. Donors with types AB, O negative, B negative and A negative blood are especially encouraged to donate. Plasma from type AB donors can be transfused to patients of any blood type, as can type O negative blood. Type B negative and A negative blood can be transfused to Rh-positive or negative patients.
These are the most in demand blood types needed.
To give blood, download the Red Cross Blood Donor App, visit redcrossblood.org or call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767).
The American Red Cross, a not-for-profit organization that depends on volunteers, supplies about 40 percent of the nation’s blood; teaches skills that save lives; provides international humanitarian aid; and supports military members and their families.
For more information, please visit redcross.org or visit us on Twitter at @RedCross.