The American Red Cross urges eligible blood donors to roll up a sleeve and give to help prevent a summer blood shortage. Blood donors with types O negative, B negative and A negative are especially needed.

The Red Cross is seeing fewer appointments at its blood donation centers and blood drives this summer than what is needed to ensure blood and platelets continue to be available for patients. During the summer months of June, July, and August, on average, about two fewer donors make an appointment to give blood at each Red Cross blood drive than what patients need. This can add up to more than 100,000 fewer donations during the summer.

Blood and platelet donations are needed every day for patients with many serious medical conditions. Accident and burn victims, heart-surgery patients; organ transplant patients; and those receiving treatment for leukemia, cancer or sickle cell disease may all need blood.

To learn more and make an appointment to donate blood, visit redcrossblood.org or call 1-800-RED CROSS.

These are local blood drives:

— On Saturday, July 26, from 7:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., at the Tri-Village Volunteer Fire Company, at 3096 Route 145, in Preston Hollow; 

— On Tuesday, July 29, from 1 to 6 p.m., at the First Reformed Church, at 1663 Helderberg Trail in Berne; 

— On Wednesday, July 30, from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. at Coeymans Fire Company, 67 Church Street, Coeymans;