BLOOD DONATIONS DOWN 25 PERCENT; RED CROSS APPEALS FOR MORE BLOOD

ST. LOUIS -- With blood donations down 25 percent last week due to the ongoing heat, the American Red Cross urges eligible blood donors who have type O negative, B positive and B negative to give blood as soon as possible.

The Red Cross said that blood supply levels for those three types have fallen dangerously low. All donors are needed, but people with low supply types are asked to make a special effort to give so that blood will be constantly available for essential surgeries and medical treatments.

To prevent insufficient blood levels, the Red Cross asks healthy people to donate every eight weeks. Donating blood is a safe, simple process, taking about an hour. All needles and supplies are sterile, used only once and then safely discarded.

Upcoming blood drives in the region include: July 6 from 1-6 p.m. at Sacred Heart Church, 102 E. Castor in Dexter; July 7 from 1-6 p.m. at Mineral Area Regional Medical Center, 1212 Weber in Farmington.; July 9 from 8:30 a.m. until noon at the Knights of Columbus Hall, Route N in Leopold; and July 12 at Southeast Missouri Hospital, 1701 Lacey in Cape Girardeau.

To be eligible to give blood, you must be 17 years or older and weigh 110 pounds. In Illinois, 16-year-olds may donate with a signed Red Cross permission form.

For information about convenient blood drives in your area, call 1-800-GIVE-LIFE.