The American Red Cross urges eligible donors to give blood this summer for hospital patients in need and offers three easy steps people can take to help save lives. 

- Schedule – Use the free Red Cross Blood Donor App, visit redcrossblood.org or call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) to make an appointment.

- Prepare – Get a good night’s sleep, eat a nutritious meal and drink extra fluids.

- Give – The donation process start to finish takes about an hour. The actual donation only takes about 10 minutes.

Only about 3 percent of the U.S. population gives blood, which means a heavy reliance on repeat donors to maintain a sufficient blood supply. New blood donors are especially needed during the summer months because many schools where blood drives are held – and where new donors give – are not in session, and current donors often delay giving due to summer vacations. 

In June, the Red Cross joins blood collection agencies around the world marking World Blood Donor Day by raising awareness about the need for a readily available blood supply. Make an appointment to donate blood by downloading the free Red Cross Blood Donor App, visiting redcrossblood.org or calling 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767). Donors can make an even greater impact by inviting others to join them in giving.

Upcoming blood donation opportunities:

June 16

7:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m., St. Joseph's Hospital, 11705 Mercy Blvd., Savannah

8 a.m. - 3 p.m., Savannah Blood Donation Center, 25 Tibet Ave., Savannah

11 a.m. - 4 p.m., Liberty Regional Medical Center, 462 E.G. Miles Parkway, Hinesville

June 17

7 a.m. - 2 p.m., Savannah Blood Donation Center, 25 Tibet Ave., Savannah

June 19

 12 - 7 p.m., Savannah Blood Donation Center, 25 Tibet Ave., Savannah

2 - 7 p.m., Reidsville Baptist Church, 146 Brazell St.,Reidsville

2 - 7 p.m., Calvary Baptist Church, 415 East Cherry St., Jesup

June 20

2 - 7 p.m., First Baptist Church, 201 North Main St., Baxley

3 - 7 p.m., Richmond Hill Fire Department, 9930 Ford Ave., Richmond Hill

9 a.m. - 2 p.m., Ogeechee Technical College, 1 Joe Kennedy Blvd., Statesboro

12 - 7 p.m., Savannah Blood Donation Center, 25 Tibet Ave., Savannah

June 21

10 a.m. - 3 p.m., Chatham County Courthouse, 133 Montgomery St., Savannah

12 - 7 p.m., Savannah Blood Donation Center, 25 Tibet Ave., Savannah

10 a.m. - 3 p.m., GA Pacific River Mill, 393 Ft. Howard Road, Rincon

June 22

2 - 7 p.m., First Baptist Church, 108 North Main St., Statesboro

12 - 7 p.m., Savannah Blood Donation Center, 25 Tibet Ave., Savannah

12:30 - 5:30 p.m., Hampton Regional Medical Center, 595 West Carolina Ave., Varnville

June 23

9:30 a.m. - 3 p.m., Statesboro-Bulloch County Parks & Rec, 1 Max Lockwood Drive, Statesboro

10 a.m. - 3 p.m., Georgia Ports Authority, 100 North Main St., Garden City

8 a.m. - 3 p.m., Savannah Blood Donation Center, 25 Tibet Ave., Savannah

June 24

7 a.m. - 2 p.m., Savannah Blood Donation Center, 25 Tibet Ave., Savannah

June 26

12 - 7 p.m., Savannah Blood Donation Center, 25 Tibet Ave., Savannah

June 27

12 - 8 p.m., Savannah Blood Donation Center, 25 Tibet Ave., Savannah

1 - 6 p.m., Goshen United Methodist Church, 6227 Highway 21 South, Rincon

June 28

1 - 6 p.m., Statesboro-Bulloch County Parks & Recreation, 1 Max Lockwood Drive, Statesboro

12 - 8 p.m., Savannah Blood Donation Center, 25 Tibet Ave., Savannah

10 a.m. - 3 p.m., Newman Gym, 439 Bundy Ave., Fort Stewart

10 a.m. - 3 p.m., Hinesville Masonic Lodge 271 & VA Clinic, 500 E Oglethorpe Highway, Hinesville

June 29

10 a.m. - 3 p.m., Jesup Health and Rehab, 3100 Savannah Highway, Jesup

1 - 6 p.m., Pittman Park United Methodist Church, 1102 Fair Road, Statesboro

8 a.m. - 1 p.m., YMCA West Chatham, 165 Isaac G. LaRoche Drive, Pooler

12 - 8 p.m., Savannah Blood Donation Center, 25 Tibet Ave., Savannah

June 30

8 a.m. - 4 p.m., Savannah Blood Donation Center, 25 Tibet Ave., Savannah

9 a.m. - 1 p.m., Shelter Cove Towne Centre, 40 Shelter Cove Lane, Hilton Head Island

July 1

7:45 a.m. - 4 p.m., Savannah Blood Donation Center, 25 Tibet Ave., Savannah

July 3

12:45 - 7:45 p.m., Savannah Blood Donation Center, 25 Tibet Ave., Savannah

10 a.m. - 2 p.m., Jeff Davis Hospital, 163 South Tallahassee St., Hazlehurst

July 4

12:45 - 7:45 p.m., Savannah Blood Donation Center, 25 Tibet Ave., Savannah

July 5

2 - 7 p.m., First Baptist Church, 201 North Main St., Baxley

10 a.m. - 3 p.m., Starbucks, 714 Northside Drive East, Statesboro

12:45 - 7:45 p.m., Savannah Blood Donation Center, 25 Tibet Ave., Savannah

11:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m., Lord of Life Lutheran Church, 351 Buckwalter Parkway, Bluffton

July 6

12:45 - 7:45 p.m., Savannah Blood Donation Center, 25 Tibet Ave., Savannah

2 - 7 p.m., Memorial Health University Medical Center, 4700 Waters Ave., Savannah

July 7

8:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m., Logistics Readiness Center, 1624 West 6th St., Fort Stewart

July 8

7:45 a.m. - 2:45 p.m., Savannah Blood Donation Center, 25 Tibet Ave., Savannah

How to help

Simply download the American Red Cross Blood Donor App, visit redcrossblood.org or call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) to make an appointment or for more information. All blood types are needed to ensure a reliable supply for patients. A blood donor card or driver’s license or two other forms of identification are required at check-in. Individuals who are 17 years of age in most states (16 with parental consent where allowed by state law), weigh at least 110 pounds and are in generally good health may be eligible to donate blood. High school students and other donors 18 years of age and younger also have to meet certain height and weight requirements.

Blood donors can now save time at their next donation by using RapidPass to complete their pre-donation reading and health history questionnaire online, on the day of their donation, prior to arriving at the blood drive. To get started and learn more, visit redcrossblood.org/RapidPass and follow the instructions on the site.

Volunteers needed

Another way to support the lifesaving mission of the American Red Cross is to become a volunteer transportation specialist and deliver lifesaving blood products to local area hospitals. Volunteer transportation specialists play a very important role in ensuring an ample blood supply for patients in need by transporting blood and blood products. For more information and to apply for a volunteer transportation specialist position, contact Darlene Cromwell at 470-316-8672, Honwan Byrd at 470-316-8671 or visit rdcrss.org/driver.