Upcoming Red Cross blood drives 

The American Red Cross has extended its urgent call for donors of all blood types to give blood or platelets. With influenza escalating across the country and preventing some donors from giving and winter weather threatening to cancel blood drives, the Red Cross now has a critical shortage of type O blood and urgently needs donors to restock the shelves.

Upcoming area blood drives will be 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 31 at the Grace Bible Church, 40 Douty Hill Road in Sangerville; 1-5:30 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 6 at Dexter Regional High School, 12 Abbott Hill Road; and 1-5 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 7 at the Milo Town Hall, 6 Pleasant St.

Every day, the Red Cross must collect nearly 13,000 blood donations and more than 2,600 platelet donations for patients who rely on blood to survive. Donors of all blood types – especially types O positive and O negative – are urged to make an appointment to give blood or platelets now using the Red Cross Blood Donor App, visiting RedCrossBlood.org, calling 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) or enabling the Blood Donor Skill on any Alexa Echo device.

Donors living in eastern and central Maine have the opportunity to give blood at the Bangor Red Cross Blood Donation Center. For hours of operation and to make an appointment, view the Bangor Red Cross Blood Donation Center information on RedCrossBlood.org.