The American Red Cross has an urgent need for blood and platelet donors of all types to help prevent a blood shortage. Every two seconds, someone in the U.S. needs a blood transfusion — and every day, the Red Cross must collect 15,000 donations to meet the needs of patients.

Over the past 11 weeks, donations through the Red Cross were down approximately 8 percent, resulting in about 80,000 fewer donations than expected. The number of donors continues to decline, and the shortfall is significant enough that the Red Cross could experience an emergency situation in the coming week.

There are several area blood drives scheduled this month, beginning today in Ellis.

• Ellis High School Scholarship Drive, 1 to 6 p.m. Tuesday, Knights of Columbus Hall, Ellis.

• Quinter Blood Drive, noon to 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, Church of the Brethren, Quinter.

• Hays Medical Center Blood Drive, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thursday, Hadley Rooms at HaysMed. Donors will be eligible to win chamber gift certificates and Jimmy John’s will be served.

• Russell Blood Drive, noon to 6 p.m. Thursday, July 31, Fossil Creek Inn & Suites, Russell.

To schedule an appointment, visit redcrossblood.org. Walk-ins are welcome.