The summer months often lead to a shortage in blood donations nationwide.
In Central Texas, Carter Bloodcare said they lose about 20-25-percent of blood donors in the summer.
"We get 20-25 percent of our blood donations from high school students, so when they let out [of school] at the end of May, we don't see them again until early September," Clinton McCoy, an account consultant for Carter Bloodcare said.
According to the American Red Cross, nearly 700 fewer blood drives are scheduled during the Independence Day week than the weeks before or after the holiday.
Blood donation locations see fewer people donating, too, because of summer vacations and summer activities.
"We're already kind of cut short because only 37% are eligible to donate. Only 5 percent of the population shows up according to nationwide statistics," McCoy said.
Carter Blood Care's Waco Central Texas Donor Center is open five days a week for donations and have blood drives happening seven days a week in various locations.
Through Central, North and East Texas, Carter Bloodcare needs to see about 1-thousand donors a day to meet the needs of the hospitals.
"If you can't donate find two people who can and bring them to a blood drive," McCoy said.
McCoy said they are not short on any blood type locally at this time.
"The only type that we're short is the type that's not on the shelf when the patient needs it," McCoy said.
If you are an O-negative blood type, they ask you to consider donating.
"It's a universal donor so it can be given to anyone in a trauma situation. So you think about all the issues with shootings, stabbings, car accidents, things of that nature. O-negatives go pretty fast in our hospitals," McCoy said.
When you donate through Carter Bloodcare, all of the blood goes to hospitals across Central Texas. They are the only blood provider in the area.
""You're giving life to your community. When you donate blood you can actually save three lives," McCoy said.
They are hosting several mobile drive this weekend including:
- Friday, July 7
- H-E-B in Belton from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
- H-E-B in Temple on Adams Avenue from noon to 6 p.m.
- Saturday, July 8
- H-E-B in Mexia from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- Sunday, July 9
- H-E-B on 19th Street in Waco from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
- H-E-B in Harker Heights from noon to 5 p.m.
To schedule an appointment at the donor center or on a mobile drive, call 1-800-366-2834 or visit http://www.carterbloodcare.org/
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