The American Red Cross is facing a critical blood shortage and is issuing an emergency call for eligible blood and platelet donors of all blood types to give now and help save lives.

Blood donation have fallen short of expectations for the past two months, resulting in about 61,000 fewer donations that needed and causing a significant draw down of the Red Cross blood supply. The shortfall is the equivalent of the Red Cross not collecting any blood donations for more than four days.

“It’s crucial that people donate now to meet the needs of patients every day and to be prepared for emergencies that require significant volumes of donated blood,” said Alana Mauger, external communications manager for the Penn-Jersey Blood Services Region. “Every day, blood and platelet donors can help save lives and right now these heroes are needed as soon as possible.”

How to Help

To schedule an appointment to donate, use the free Blood Donor App, visit redcrossblood.org or call 800-RED-CROSS (800-733-2767). The Red Cross has added more than 25,000 additional appointment slots at donation centers and community blood drives across the country over the next few weeks to accommodate more donors. Donation appointments and completion of a RapidPass online health history questionnaire are encouraged to help reduce the time it takes to donate.

Summer Months Lead to Shortage

Blood shortages often worsen around Independence Day due to fewer volunteer-hosted blood drives at places of work, worship or community gathering spaces. Nearly 700 fewer blood drives are schedule during the Independence Day week than the weeks before and after the holiday.

Overall, the summer months are among the most challenging times of the year for blood and platelet donations as regular donors delay giving while they vacation and participate in summer activities. In a recent survey of Red Cross blood donors, more than 73 percent indicated their vacation plans this summer may impact their ability to donate, with many vacations occurring the weeks before and after Independence Day.

New donors, as well as those who haven’t given in a while, are especially encouraged to donate. Nearly one-third fewer new blood donors came out to give last summer than during the rest of the year due, in part, to schools, where many blood drives are held and where new donors often give – being out of session during the summer months.

Blood Donation Beneficiaries

Every two seconds in the United States, blood and platelets are needed to respond to patient emergencies including accident and burn victims, heart surgery and organ transplant procedures, and patients receiving treatment for leukemia, cancer or sickle cell disease. The Red Cross must collect nearly 14,000 blood donations every day for patients at approximately 2,600 hospitals  across the country. The Penn-Jersey and Northeastern Pennsylvania Blood Services Regions must collect approximately 1,000 units of blood and platelets every day to meet patient and hospital demand.

A schedule of upcoming blood donation opportunities being held from July 5-25 around the Diocese of Trenton follows:

American Red Cross Blood Donation Center

Central New Jersey Donation Center, 707 Alexander Road, Suite 701, Princeton Township, Tuesday: 11:45 a.m. to 7 p.m. (whole blood and platelet pheresis); Friday-Sunday: 7:15 a.m. to 3 p.m. (whole blood nad platelet pheresis)

Mercer County

Hamilton: July 25, 1 to 6 p.m., Nottingham Fire Company, 200 Mercer Street

Pennington: July 7, 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., Capital Health Medical Center-Hopewell, One Capitol Way

Princeton: July 5, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., Princeton University, Friend Center, 65 Olden Street

Titusville: July 11, 7:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., Johnson & Johnson, Titusville Campus, 1125 Trenton-Harbourton Road

Titusville: July 20, 7:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., Johnson & Johnson, Titusville Campus, 1125 Trenton-Harbourton Road

Monmouth County

Tinton Falls: July 6, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. , American Red Cross, 1540 W. Park Avenue

Ocean County

Bayville: July 14, 2 to 7 p.m., Faith Community United Methodist Church, 526 Route 9

Forked River: July 25, 1 to 6 p.m., Lacey High School, 73 Haines Street

Lakewood: July 5, 2 to 7 p.m., American Legion Post No. 166, 1256 River Avenue

Little Egg Harbor: July 19, 2 to 7 p.m., Great Bay Regional Volunteer EMS, 100 Oak Lane

Long Beach Township: July 20, 1 to 6 p.m., St. Francis Parish Center, 4700 Long Beach Boulevard

Normandy Beach: July 21, 2:30 to 7:30 p.m., Dover Brick Beach First Aid, 123 Second Avenue

Toms River: July 5, 2 to 7 p.m., The Days Hotel by Wyndham, 290 Route 37 E.

Toms River: July 19, 2 to 7 p.m., The Days Hotel by Wyndham, 290 Route 37 E.

Waretown: July 25, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Waretown United Methodist Church, 27 Bryant Road

Whiting: July 21, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., The Pines at Whiting, 509 Route 30.

For more information, visit redcross.org or cruzrojaamericana.org or on Twitter at @RedCross.