York County Government hosts American Red Cross Blood Drive - Thursday, July 30

ALFRED, Maine – The American Red Cross has declared an emergency blood shortage as the demand for blood due to serious injuries and other medical emergencies.

But you can help.

York County Government is hosting an American Red Cross Blood Drive 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Thursday, July 30 in the drill hall of the York County Regional Training Center at 79 First County Way (off Route 4 and a first right off Layman Way) in Alfred.

To sign up and get your preferred time slot, go to: https://www.redcrossblood.org/give.html/donation-time?zipSponsor=04002&driveType=all

• The blood shortage comes during the height of trauma season, when hospitals frequently see increased demand due to serious injuries and other medical emergencies.

• A steep decline in blood donations since the end of May has created a growing gap between supply and patient need. Currently, Red Cross distributions to hospitals are nearly 3,500 units higher per week than expected, along with a decline of about 38,000 donations at the end of the school year because of a drop in young donors.

• A recent Red Cross survey reveals a significant gap between public perception and the reality of the nation's blood supply. Fewer than 1 in 5 respondents understood that blood cannot be stockpiled because it has a limited shelf life and must be continually replenished through volunteer donors.

• Only about half believed it was very likely that they or someone close to them would need blood one day, even though someone in the U.S. receives a blood transfusion every two seconds.