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MARQUETTE -- Three area American Red Cross Blood drives are planned in the area to help offset critical blood shortages.
One is set from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Wednesday at Christ United Methodist Church, 20 S. Fifth St. in Crystal Falls.
A second blood drive will be from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 11, at First Presbyterian Church, 395 Hamilton Ave. in Kingsford.
On Wednesday, Aug. 13, the West Iron District Library, 116 W. Genesee St. in Iron River, will host a blood drive from 11:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
The American Red Cross has declared an emergency blood shortage, as the blood supply fell nearly 25% in June. Blood donors are urgently needed to give now to help ensure patients receive lifesaving medical care without delay. The shortage is especially serious for platelets and types O positive and B negative blood.
A steep decline in blood donations since the end of May has created a growing gap between supply and patient need. Currently, Red Cross distributions to hospitals are nearly 3,500 units higher per week than expected at a time when hospitals often see higher demand for blood products during the height of trauma season. Busy schedules and the seasonal loss of school blood drives are driving the decline.
To book an appointment to give blood by using the Blood Donor App, going to RedCrossBlood.org or calling 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767).