The American Red Cross is facing a critical blood shortage and asking all potential donors to consider donating blood.
According to Nancy Martin, senior account manager with American Red Cross Blood Services, most blood reserves are at about a one-day supply when the minimum the Red Cross likes to stay at is a three-day supply.
Making things more difficult is the fact that this region can't import blood from other regions as there is a nationwide shortage.
"It's becoming more difficult to find blood to import, especially Type-O," Martin said.
Beginning today, there are three blood drives this week, and one each of the following two weeks. Red Cross workers will be at the Nessmith-Lane Building at Georgia Southern from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. The next one will be Thursday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. in room 307 of the East Georgia Regional Medical Center medical office building and then on Friday from 2 p.m. to 7 p.m. in the Wal-Mart parking lot.
After that, the next drive will be Thursday, July 19 from 2 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Brooklet United Methodist Church and then there will be a drive on Thursday, July 25 from noon to 6 p.m. in the McCook Pharmacy parking lot.
Typically blood supplies drop during the summer due to regular donors being on vacation and colleges and high schools being on summer break.
Martin said blood supplies don't usually increase until late September or October when they are able to visit schools and colleges again. She urged everyone to try to give blood at least twice during the summer to try to mitigate the shortages.
"Those who gave in the early part of July, we'd like to see if they can give again in August," she said. "You can donate every 56 days."
Upcoming Blood Drives
Today: 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. — Nessmith-Lane Building at GSU
Thursday: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. — EGRMC Medical Office Building, room 307
Friday: 2 p.m. to 7 p.m. — Wal-Mart parking lot
July 19: 2 p.m. to 7 p.m. — Brooklet United Methodist Church
July 25: Noon to 6 p.m. — McCook Pharmacy parking lot