RED CROSS IN NEED OF BLOOD DONORS

It's hot and muggy, and the last thing you want to think about right is letting someone stick a large needle into your arm to get a pint of blood. But the American Red Cross says now is the time to give.

"People don't want to get out in the heat, and I know giving blood is not a high priority," said David Palmer, Red Cross donor services consultant. "But our supplies are reaching dangerously low levels and some surgeries may have to be postponed."

Tuesday and Wednesday the Red Cross will hold blood drives in hopes of getting enough blood for the Independence Day weekend. Over the weekend, the increased number of accidents will require more blood. In addition, people do not usually give blood over the weekend, so most of it must be donated now.

On Tuesday a blood drive will be held from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. in the JCPenney wing of West Park Mall, sponsored by K103 and 960 KZIM. On Wednesday there will be a blood drive from 2 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the Holiday Inn Convention Center, sponsored by the Cape County Extension Clubs.

These drives are "Donor Recognition Days," in which donors will receive a gift and a donor certificate.

"This is so important for us, so we want to try to make it more of a party for these people while they are giving blood," Palmer said.

The Red Cross has set a goal of almost 400 units of blood for the drives, but even that won't be enough. "We've got to collect at least that much," Palmer said. "We have a weekly need for blood that we haven't reached in the past 10 to 12 weeks."

The Red Cross is currently on a Code Red for Types O and B blood. This means that hospitals are having a significant shortage of these types, but all types are needed.

Even if the two blood drives raise the 400 units, this amount can easily be used just in Cape Girardeau over the Independence Day weekend.

"For example, we had one patient who went through 250 units of Type O alone," Palmer said. "We can't prepare for things like this and it takes a big chunk out of our supply."

Donors must be at least 17 years old, weigh 110 pounds and cannot have donated within the past 56 days.