Summer is a busy time with vacations, fairs and festivals, and sports, so it may be easy to forget services like blood donations.

Blood donations are crucial for patient emergencies, including accident and burn victims, heart surgery and organ transplant procedures, and patients receiving treatment for leukemia, cancer or sickle cell disease. According to the American Red Cross blood shortages typically worsen around Independence Day due to fewer volunteer-hosted blood drives. The American Red Cross says there are 700 fewer drives scheduled during the holiday week than the weeks before and after the holiday. For those interested in donating blood, there are community blood drives happening in southeast Iowa July 14.

Upcoming Local Blood Drives:

Mount Pleasant – 11 a.m. – 2 p.m., July 14, Henry County Health Center

Swedesburg – 3 p.m. – 6 p.m., July 14, Swedesburg Lutheran Church