A blood shortage has prompted the American Red Cross to issue an urgent call for eligible donors of all blood types – especially Type O.

The Red Cross escalated its call for blood and platelet donors after a difficult Independence Day week for donations. More than 550 fewer blood drives were organized by businesses and community groups last week than in a typical week as people across the country celebrated the holiday and enjoyed summer activities.

This could mean as many as 15,000 fewer donations than needed, causing donations to be distributed to hospitals faster than they come in.

“Each and every day, individuals across the country depend on blood and platelet donations for lifesaving treatments and emergency care, so it’s critical that people donate now to meet these needs,” said Cliff Numark, senior vice president of Red Cross Blood Services. “Whether you’ve never donated or give a couple of times a year, you’re needed to give as soon as possible to help save patient lives. Yours may be the donation a patient is counting on.”

The need is especially critical for Type O donors. Type O is the most in-demand blood type and often the first to be depleted during a shortage. Type O negative is the universal blood type and what emergency room personnel reach for when there is no time to determine the blood type of patients in the most serious situations. Type O positive is the most common type and can be transfused to Rh-positive patients of any blood type.

How to help

To schedule an appointment to donate, use the free Red Cross Blood donor app, visit RedCrossBlood.org or call 800-RED CROSS (800-733-2767). The Red Cross has added about 6,500 appointment slots at donation centers and community blood drives across the country over the next few weeks. Appointments and completion of a RapidPass online health history questionnaire are encouraged to help reduce the time it takes to donate.

Facing a decline of about 80,000 new blood donors each year for the past several years, the Red Cross launched the Missing Types campaign in June to encourage new donors and those who have not given recently to donate blood.

These donation opportunities are upcoming in Rowan County:

Granite Quarry: 1-5:30 p.m. July 3o, Price Pharmacy, 110 E. Bank St.

Mount Ulla: 1-5:30 p.m. July 22, Millbridge Ruritan Club, 490 Sloan Road.

Rockwell: 

• 2:30-7 p.m. July 20, Rockwell Amvets, 427 Link St.

• 2-6:30 p.m. July 25, Saleeby-Fisher YMCA, 790 Crescent Road.

• 1-5:30 p.m. July 29, Rockwell Rural Volunteer Fire Department, 310 Link St.

Salisbury

• 2-6:30 p.m. July 13, Lowes Home Improvement, 207 Faith Road.

• 8 a.m.-12:30 p.m. July 24, Salisbury Civic Center, 315 S. Martin Luther King Jr. Ave.

• 11 a.m.-3:30 p.m. July 26, J.F. Hurley Family YMCA, 828 Jake Alexander Blvd.

• 11 a.m.-3:30 p.m. July 26, Genesis Healthcare, 710 Julian Road.

• 1-6 p.m. July 29, St. Matthews Lutheran Church, 9275 Bringle Ferry Road.

• 10 a.m.-2:30 p.m. July 30, Cornerstone Church, 315 Webb Road.