Emergency Community Blood Drive to be Held Thursday

Many fewer donors than expected gave blood during June and the first week of July this year, leading the American Red Cross to issue an emergency request for donors of all blood types. In response, Douglas County has scheduled an “emergency” blood drive for Thursday, July 11, from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. in Citizen’s Hall of the Douglas County Courthouse, according to a statement issued by the County.

Blood donations Nationwide were down about ten percent in June resulting in about 50,000 fewer donations than expected. June can be among the most challenging months of the year for blood donations as regular donors delay giving as they adjust to summer schedules and vacations. The Red Cross must collect almost 17,000 pints of blood every day for patients at nearly 3,000 hospitals and transfusion centers across the Nation. Someone in the United States needs a blood transfusion every two seconds.

Douglas County residents who are not regular blood donors are requested to consider donating blood this Thursday at this “emergency” blood drive. Residents may call 1-800-RED CROSS to schedule an appointment or just walk in. Blood donations usually take about an hour.

Douglas County hosts community blood drives for the Red Cross on the fourth Thursday of each month from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. in Citizen’s Hall of the Courthouse.

For more information, call the Douglas County Department of Communications and Community Relations at 770-920-7593.