The American Red Cross is urging residents to donate blood ahead of the Fourth of July, with a particular need for type O donors. Type O blood is vital in emergencies because it can be used universally when there’s no time to match blood types.
Holiday weekends tend to increase demand, and the Red Cross says a stable supply can save lives during unexpected accidents. To encourage participation, the organization has teamed up with GoodR to offer a free pair of sunglasses to anyone who donates between July 1st and 14th.
Several blood drives are scheduled across southeast Iowa, western Illinois, and northeast Missouri. A full list of donation sites and times can be found at redcrossblood.org.
