Blood donations down, need constant in summer

OMAHA, Neb. -- Upcoming blood donation opportunities in Southwest Nebraska include 12:30 to 6:30 p.m. Tuesday and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday at the Red Willow County Fairgrounds Community Building, West 5th and O in McCook. amd noon to 6 p.m. Monday, June 29, in the Ag Building, Morton and Hayes in Hayes Center.

Summer is a difficult time to collect enough blood to meet patient needs. Nearly 90 percent of donors surveyed this past spring said they planned to take a vacation this summer, potentially making them less available to give. In addition, many schools that host blood drives are out of session during the summer. But the need for blood donations is constant. Every two seconds someone in the U.S. needs blood.

Donors of all blood types -- especially those with types O negative, A negative and B negative -- are needed. The Red Cross must collect 15,000 blood donations every day to meet the needs of patients at approximately 2,600 hospitals and transfusion centers nationwide.

To make an appointment to give blood, download the Red Cross Blood Donor App, visit or call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767).