Four blood drives in Woodbridge June 16-17-18-19

Upcoming blood donation opportunities in Prince William County include:

June 16, 3 to 8 p.m. at
 Meridian Bay Apartment Homes, 2900 Fox Lair Drive, Woodbridge, VA 22191

June 17, 1 to 7 p.m. at
 Sentara Northern Virginia Medical Center, Hylton Education Center, 2300 Opitz Blvd., Woodbridge, VA 22191

June 18, from, 2 to 8 p.m. at 
 Prince William Ice Center, 5180 Dale Boulevard, Woodbridge, VA 22193

June 19, 1-5 p.m. at
 Sharron Baucom Rec Center, 14300 Minnieville Road, Dale City, VA 22193.

The American Red Cross encourages eligible blood donors to make and keep donation appointments to maintain the summer blood supply and help prevent a shortage. Donors of all blood types are currently needed, especially those with type O negative, B negative and A negative.

While the need for blood remains constant during the summer, donations drop. Between June and August, on average, two fewer donors give blood at each Red Cross blood drive than what hospitals need. This seasonal decline could be overcome if just two additional donors - above what is expected - give blood at each Red Cross blood drive this summer.

Every two seconds someone in the United States needs blood. Recently, a patient needed 79 blood products after injuries sustained during a car accident. Thanks to blood donors who gave in the days and weeks prior, blood products were readily available for this patient and thousands of others at approximately 2,700 hospitals and transfusion centers across the country supported by the Red Cross.

This summer, there are 100 chances to give hope with the Red Cross by giving blood. Visit redcrossblood.org or call 1-800-RED CROSS to learn more and make an appointment.