Blood donations needed urgently

FARMINGTON — With many regular donors delaying giving to take final summer vacations and prepare for school to start, the American Red Cross has an emergency need for blood and platelet donations to help end a summer blood shortage, according to a release.

While thousands of donors have rolled up a sleeve this summer, blood and platelet donations aren’t keeping pace with patient needs. More donations are urgently needed to replenish the blood supply and be prepared for patient emergencies.

Make an appointment to donate blood now by downloading the free Red Cross Blood Donor App, visiting RedCrossBlood.org, calling 1800RED CROSS (18007332767) or enabling the Blood Donor Skill on any Alexa Echo device. Those who donated blood earlier this summer may be eligible to give again. Blood can be safely given every 56 days, and Power Red donations can be given every 112 days.

With the help of a generous $1 million donation from Amazon, the Red Cross is thanking those who help overcome the shortage by coming to give July 29 through Aug. 29 with a $5 Amazon.com Gift Card via email. (Restrictions apply; see amazon.com/gclegal. More information and details are available at RedCrossBlood.org/Together.)

⏩ Barkhamsted: Aug. 17, 8 a.m. 1 p.m., Barkhamsted Highway Garage, 33 New Hartford Road

⏩ Canaan: Aug. 28, 1 p.m. 6 p.m., Geer Nursing & Rehab, 99 South Canaan Road Rte 7 South

⏩ East Canaan: Aug. 31, 9 a.m. 2:45 p.m., Lone Oak Campsites, 360 Norfolk Rd, P O Box 640

⏩ New Milford: Aug. 28, 1:30 p.m. 6:30 p.m., New Milford Hospital, 21 Elm St.

⏩ Terryville: Aug. 29, 1 p.m. 6 p.m., The Lyceum, 181 Main St.

⏩ Torrington: Aug. 20, 1 p.m. 6 p.m., St. Paul's Lutheran Church, 837 Charles St.; Aug. 29, 1 p.m. 6 p.m., Coe Memorial Civic Center, 101 Litchfield St.

⏩ Winsted: Aug. 27, 1 p.m. 6 p.m., Winsted Area Ambulance Association, 655 Main St.