Officials with the American Red Cross have announced Dan Haynes, executive director of the YMCA, has stepped up to serve Atlantic as the community blood drive coordinator. Haynes is replacing Diane Eblen, who will now fill the role of food coordinator for the drives. The site of community drives going forward, is also moving to the YMCA.

Haynes will work with the Red Cross to plan and host blood drives, recruiting blood donors to donate the blood products needed to treat patients from the area and across the country. The first Red Cross blood drive planned by Haynes will occur Thursday, Nov. 17th.

The Atlantic community is encouraged to make an appointment for the Nov. 17 blood drive to help ensure a sufficient blood supply. A seasonal decline in donations occurs from Thanksgiving to New Year’s Day when donors get busy with family gatherings and travel. However, patients don’t get a holiday vacation from needing lifesaving transfusions. In fact, every two seconds, someone in the U.S. needs blood.

How to donate blood: Simply download the American Red Cross Blood Donor App, visit redcrossblood.org or call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) to make an appointment or for more information. All blood types are needed to ensure a reliable supply for patients. A blood donor card or driver’s license or two other forms of identification are required at check-in.

Individuals who are 17 years of age in most states (16 with parental consent where allowed by state law), weigh at least 110 pounds and are in generally good health may be eligible to donate blood. High school students and other donors 18 years of age and younger also have to meet certain height and weight requirements.

Blood donors can now save time at their next donation by using RapidPass to complete their pre-donation reading and health history questionnaire online, on the day of their donation, prior to arriving at the blood drive. To get started and learn more, visit redcrossblood.org/RapidPass and follow the instructions on the site.