Four blood drives this week in Yuma County

Four blood drives in Yuma County this week will help keep up the blood supply in the state.

“There is always an ongoing need for blood and blood products,” said Donna Singleton, donor recruitment representative for United Blood Services Arizona. “UBS needs 500 donors daily to supply the 64 hospitals throughout our Arizona network.”

Two of the drives, in different areas of Yuma, are open to the public, and two are at local high schools.

In the downtown area, the Gowan Company, 390 Main St., will host a drive today from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in its conference room.

A drive in Wellton today is from 2 to 6 p.m. at Antelope Union High School. Members of the public are welcome after school lets out for the day.

Thursday, two drives will be held, one at Kofa High School from 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., and another at the Yuma Regional Corporate Center, 399 W. 32nd St., from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Singleton said while donors of all blood types are welcome, there is an acute need for donors whose blood types are either O positive or O negative.

In the Yuma area, patients require an average of 770 lifesaving transfusions every month, according to information from UBS.

Call 1-877-UBS-HERO (827-4376) or visit www. bloodhero.com to make an appointment.

Reach Sun Staff Writer Amy Crawford at acrawford@yumasun.com or 5396863.