Whatever reason, now is good time to donate blood

One of our staff members at the Gazette who has O negative does his best to show up for local blood drives, but he has selfish reasons.

Yes, O negative blood is much in demand because it can be given to anyone who needs it.

But when someone with O negative blood needs a transfusion, it can't come from just anyone. It has to be O negative blood.

He's doing his part to help himself, should the need ever arise.

Whatever your reasons for donating blood, we hope you'll find time to do so at the next opportunity.

Blood supplies are always short during the summer, but that's especially true this year, according to a release from The American Red Cross, which has issued an emergency call for blood and platelets, urging all eligible donors to give now to replenish an extremely low summer blood supply.

"Blood donations have fallen short of hospital needs for the past few months, resulting in about 39,000 fewer donations than what's needed, as well as a significant draw down of the overall Red Cross blood supply. In addition, the Independence Day holiday may have caused many regular donors to postpone donations due to vacation plans. A recent Red Cross poll revealed that more than 75 percent of donors surveyed indicated vacation plans this summer, many of them occurring the weeks before and after July 4."

To schedule an appointment to donate, use the free Blood Donor App, visit redcrossblood.org or call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767). The Red Cross is extending hours at many donation sites to allow for more donors to make an appointment to give. Donation appointments and completion of a RapidPass online health history questionnaire are encouraged to avoid longer wait times. Donors with all blood types are needed.

Those unable to give can still help by encouraging others to give through a SleevesUp virtual blood drive at redcrossblood.org/sleevesup, giving of their time through volunteerism or making a financial donation to support Red Cross humanitarian work across the country and around the world.

Who Blood Donations Help

Every two seconds in the United States blood and platelets are needed to respond to patient emergencies, including accident and burn victims, heart surgery and organ transplant procedures, and patients receiving treatment for leukemia, cancer or sickle cell disease. The Red Cross must collect approximately 14,000 blood and platelet donations every day for patients at about 2,600 hospitals and transfusion centers nationwide.

Upcoming opportunities

Imperial -- 7/18/2016: 12 p.m. - 6 p.m., Catholic Hall, 740 Broadway St

Benkelman -- 7/8/2016: 12 p.m. - 6 p.m., 4-H Exhibit Building, 70495 Ave 338, Fairgrounds

Eustis -- 7/11/2016: 11 a.m. - 5 p.m., Legion Hall, 108 North Main Street

Arapahoe -- 7/19/2016: 11 a.m. - 5 p.m., Ella Missing Community Building, 411 6th Street

Beaver City -- 7/6/2016: 10:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m., Community Building, 401 10th Street

Cambridge -- 7/21/2016: 12 p.m. - 6 p.m., Cambridge Hospital, West Hwy 6th and 34

Palisade -- 7/21/2016: 12 p.m. - 6 p.m., Mihm Hall, 103 N Vennum