The American Red Cross is facing a looming blood shortage, leading to an urgent need for donors of all blood types to roll up a sleeve and give.Donations through the Red Cross are down approximately 8 percent over the last 11 weeks, resulting in about 80,000 fewer donations than expected. The number of donors continues to decline, and the shortfall is significant enough that the Red Cross could experience an emergency situation in the coming weeks.

In addition, the Independence Day holiday falling on Friday reduced the number of blood drives scheduled in early July. Many sponsors did not host drives because people took vacations either over the long weekend or for the entire week. In an average summer week, about 4,400 Red Cross blood drives are scheduled, compared to Independence Day week when only 3,450 drives occurred.

Eligible donors with types O negative, B negative and A negative blood are especially needed at this time. Type O negative is the universal blood type and can be transfused to anyone who needs blood. Types A negative and B negative can be transfused to Rh positive or negative patients.

There is also an urgent need for platelet donations. Platelets – a key clotting component of blood often needed by cancer patients, burn victims and bone marrow recipients – must be transfused within five days of donation, so it’s important to have a steady supply of platelets on hand. Individuals who donated blood earlier this summer may now be eligible to donate again and help patients such as accident victims, heart surgery patients and children with blood disorders.

To Donate Blood, simply call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) or visit redcrossblood.org to make an appointment or for more information.

Upcoming Blood Donation Opportunities:

Carroll County
July 31 from noon to 6 p.m. at Zion Lutheran Church, 1204 Center St. in Manning
Aug. 4 from 12:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. at American Legion Hall, 210 Head St. in Arcadia

Cass County
July 23 from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at Cass County Memorial Hospital, 1501 E. 10th St. in Atlantic

Crawford County
Aug. 4 from 12:30 p.m. to 6 p.m. at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, 537 3rd Ave.nue in Manilla
Aug. 5 from 11:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. at United Methodist Church, 113 S. 14th St. in Denison
Aug. 8 from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. at Community Building, 106 Franklin St. in Dow City

Harrison County
July 24 from noon to 6 p.m. at Community Center, 108 W. 4th St. in Logan
Aug. 7 from noon to 6 p.m. at Rand Community/Senior Center, 100 S. 4th St in Missouri Valley

Mills County
July 25 from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at Glenwood Resource Visitor’s Center, 711 S. Vine in Glenwood
July 31 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Glenwood High School, 504 E. Sharp St. in Glenwood
Aug. 4 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at East Mills High School, 1501 E. 15th St. in Malvern

Montgomery County
July 23 from noon to 6 p.m. at Community Center, 201 S. 3rd Ave. in Villisca

Page County
July 24 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Shenandoah K-8 School, 601 Drive Creighton Circle in Shenandoah
Aug. 8 from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Shenandoah Medical Center, 300 Pershing Ave. in Shenandoah

Pottawattamie County
July 22 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at American Red Cross, 705 N. 16th St. in Council Bluffs
July 23 from 11:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. at Mercy Professional Center, 801 Harmony St. in Council Bluffs
July 25 from noon to 6 p.m. at Bass Pro Shop, 2901 Bass Pro Drive in Council Bluffs
July 26 from 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at American Legion, 309 1/2 Elm in Avoca
July 26 from 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at United Church of Christ, 106 Lincoln St. in Minden
July 27 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at East Side Christian Church, 331 W. Bennett Ave. in Council Bluffs
July 28 from 11:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. at First Presbyterian Church, 406 Antique City Drive in Walnut
July 28 from 12:30 p.m. to 6:15 p.m. at American Red Cross, 705 N. 16th St. in Council Bluffs
July 29 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at American Red Cross, 705 N. 16th St. in Council Bluffs
Aug. 2 from 8 a.m. to noon at Fire Station, 102 W. Florence in Crescent
Aug. 4 from 12:30 p.m. to 6:15 p.m. at American Red Cross, 705 N. 16th St. in Council Bluffs
Aug. 5 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at American Red Cross, 705 N. 16th St. in Council Bluffs
Aug. 6 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Dewitt Community Building, 404 Potter St. in Macedonia
Aug. 8 from 8 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at Council Bluffs Senior Center, 714 Main St. in Council Bluffs

Shelby County
July 28 from noon to 6 p.m. at St. Joseph’s Hall, 118 Main St. in Earling
Aug. 5 from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at CDS, 3107 Shelby St. in Harlan

Taylor County
July 29 from noon to 6 p.m. at American Legion Hall, 106 W. Ohio in Lenox
Aug. 1 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at New Life Missionary Church, 301 Pollack in Bedford
Aug. 5 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at American Legion Hall, 301 Main St. in Bedford

Union County
July 22 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at East Union High School, 1916 High School Drive in Afton
July 30 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Creston High School, 601 W. Townline in Creston