The American Red Cross is asking Americans to roll up their sleeve and give blood this summer.

According to the Red Cross, their blood supply has reached emergency levels with 50,000 fewer donations than expected in June. Due partially to the early summer and a lack of scheduled blood drives, this shortfall leaves the nonprofit with half the readily available blood products on hand now than this time last year.

All blood types are needed, but especially O positive, O negative, B negative and A negative in order to meet patient demand this summer.

“Every day, the Red Cross must collect more than 17,000 pints of blood for patients at more than 3,000 hospitals and transfusion centers across the country. Of that, the Southeastern Michigan Blood Services Region must collect approximately 900 pints per day,” said Diane E. Ward, CEO of the American Red Cross Southeastern Michigan Blood Services Region, serving Wayne, Oakland, Macomb, Washtenaw and St. Clair counties. “We need donors to make appointments in the coming days and weeks to help us ensure that all patient blood needs can be met. Each pint of whole blood can help save more than one life.”

To assist the American Red Cross, St. Clair Shores has agreed to help by hosting a blood donation drive from 8 a.m- 6:45 p.m. Monday, July 9, at City Hall.

As of Friday, 27 individuals who have scheduled an appointment to donate blood. City Manager Ben Hughes said St. Clair Shores has a goal of having 85 people donate on July 9. 

To schedule an appointment at any location to donate blood or platelets, or to host a blood drive in your community, visit redcrossblood.org or call 1-800- 733-2767. 
 
Be sure to bring your Red Cross blood donor card or other form of positive ID when you come to donate.