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The Hershey Community Blood Drive will be held Thursday, July 12 at the Hershey American Legion Hall from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Muffins will be served for breakfast and a full meal will be available after 11 a.m. The Hershey State Bank will provide refreshments. Appointments are appreciated and walk-ins are always welcome. Call Barb Baldridge at 308-520-1613 for an appointment. The American Red Cross blood supply has reached emergency levels with 50,000 fewer donations than expected in June. This shortfall leaves the Red Cross with half the readily available blood products on hand now compared to this time last year, Baldrdige sad. The Red Cross is calling on all eligible blood donors – now more than ever – to roll up a sleeve and give as soon as possible. All blood types are needed, but especially O positive, O negative, B negative and A negative, in order to meet patient demand this summer. An unseasonably early start to spring may be a contributing factor to this year’s decrease in donations. Many regular donors got an early start on summer activities and aren’t taking time to give blood or platelets. In addition, this year’s mid-week Independence Day holiday has reduced the number of scheduled Red Cross blood drives. Many sponsors, especially businesses, are unable to host drives because employees are taking extended vacations. Unfortunately, patients don’t get a holiday from needing blood products. The need is constant. Every two seconds, someone in the United States needs a blood transfusion. Blood and platelets are needed for many different reasons, including accident and burn victims, heart surgery patients, organ transplant patients, premature babies – when there are complications during childbirth – and for patients receiving treatment for leukemia, cancer or sickle cell disease. "Please help us to replenish badly needed blood supplies," Baldridge said.
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