Donate Blood, Get A $20 Gift Card: Seal Beach Blood Drive

SEAL BEACH, CA — The American Red Cross urged people to donate blood to help overcome an emergency blood shortage as the national supply dropped by more than 25 percent in July.

To encourage the local community to pitch in, the Red Cross is hosting a blood donation event in Seal Beach on Wednesday at the Mary Wilson Library. Donors will receive a $20 digital gift card for Amazon by email.

“A person needs lifesaving blood every two seconds in our country — and its availability can be the difference between life and death, however, blood is only available thanks to the generosity of those who roll up a sleeve to donate,” said Dr. Pampee Young, chief medical officer of the Red Cross.

According to the Red Cross, end-of-summer travel plans threatened already low blood levels in nearly every state where donations are collected. Summer travel plans prevented more than 17,000 blood donations in July, the Red Cross said.

All blood types are needed for donations, especially those with type O blood, according to the Red Cross.

To make an appointment, download the Red Cross Blood Donor App, visit RedCrossBlood.org or call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767).