7/11/17

A seasonal shortage of blood donors around the nation has led to what the Red Cross is calling a blood emergency. 

In the past two months, the Red Cross has seen 61,000 fewer blood donations than average. That is equivalent to the approximate number of losses the Red Cross would see if it received no donations for more than four days. 

Volunteers are also needed in ways that don’t involve donating blood. Organizations also need volunteers to help transport blood and help run blood drives. 

The Red Cross has added more than 25,000 additional appointment slots at donation centers and community blood drives across the country over the next few weeks to accommodate more donors. For more information, go to redcrossblood.org or call 800-733-2767. 

To see a list of upcoming blood drives log onto wpparadio.com and click on news.

Upcoming blood drives
Some upcoming blood drives in the area include:
Red Cross
• YMCA, Tamaqua, Wednesday, 1 to 6 p.m.
• Cornerstone Community Church, Kunkletown, July 16, 1 to 6 p.m.
• American Legion Post 360, Weatherly, July 26, 1:30 to 6:30 p.m.
• YMCA, Tamaqua, Aug. 24, 1 to 6 p.m.
   Miller-Keystone
• Palmerton Hospital, Palmerton, July 19, 1 to 4 p.m.
• Hope Lutheran Church, Cherryville, July 23, 7:30 a.m. to noon.
• Masonic Lodge 238, Tamaqua, Aug. 2, 2 to 7 p.m.
• Penn Forest Township Volunteer Fire Company, Jim Thorpe, Aug. 7, 3 to 7 p.m.