Red Cross urges donations to help maintain blood supply

The American Red Cross is looking for blood donors to help keep the nationwide blood supply strong.

According to the Indiana chapter of the Red Cross, all blood types are needed but types O Positive and B Negative are in particular demand. The agency says donation is critical to making sure all patients relying on transfusions get the care they need. Those needing blood could include accident victims, those with sickle cell disease and those facing cancer.

Those who donate before October 19th will receive a $10 Amazon gift card by email.

The Red Cross has several upcoming blood donation opportunities in our area including:

• Greensburg: October 3rd from 10 to 5 p.m. at Decatur County Memorial Hospital in Greensburg
• North Vernon: October 7th from 1 to 6 p.m. at Rolling Hill Shrine on State Highway 7 and from 10 to 3 at Saint Vincent Jennings Hospital on Henry Street, both in North Vernon.
• Columbus: October 8th  from 11 to 4 at Analytical Engineering on Technology Blvd; October 10th from noon to 5 p.m. at Columbus Municipal Airport on Ray Boll Boulevard; October 11th from 8 to 12:30 at St. Bartholomew Catholic Church on 27th Street.

You can schedule an appointment to give through the Red Cross Blood Donor App, by visiting RedCrossBlood.org or by calling 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767).