Blood drive set for Friday

DOWNINGTOWN » Downingtown Friends Meeting will host a community blood drive with the American Red Cross on Friday at the school house at 800 E. Lancaster Avenue.

The blood drive will be held from 2-7 p.m. Friday, Aug. 24. For more information or to make an appointment to donate, call 1-800-RED-CROSS (1-800733-2767) or sign up online at redcrossblood.org with sponsor code “Downingtown Friends.”

“Hosting a blood drive coincides with Downingtown Friends’ core values of giving back to the community,” said Adrienne Miller, committee member of the Outreach Committee at DFM. “With a simple blood donation, we have the ability to help save the life of someone who could be a coworker, loved one or neighbor.”

Blood is routinely transfused to patients with cancer and other diseases, premature babies, organ transplant recipients and trauma victims, according to the Red Cross.

“The short amount of time it takes to donate can mean a lifetime to a patient with a serious medical condition. We urge eligible donors to join us in the selfless act of giving blood.”

Donors of all blood types are needed, especially those with types O negative, B negative and A negative. Type O negative is the universal blood type that can be safely transfused to anyone, and is often used to treat trauma patients, according to the Red Cross.