Village Asking Manhattan Residents To Participate In Blood Drive

MANHATTAN, IL — The Village of Manhattan and Versiti Blood Centers are teaming up to host a blood drive from 4 to 7 p.m. Jan. 27 at the Village Hall Meeting Room, 260 Market Place in Manhattan.

Walk-ins are welcome, but appointments are preferred, the Village posted on its website. Appointments can be made by following this link, or by calling or texting (734) 755-7245.

The American Red Cross issued a statement Tuesday calling the shortage a "national blood crisis" that's forcing doctors to delay life-saving treatments for those in need, according to an earlier report on Patch.

"While some types of medical care can wait, others can't," Dr. Pampee Young, chief medical officer of the Red Cross, said in a statement. "Hospitals are still seeing accident victims, cancer patients, those with blood disorders like sickle cell disease, and individuals who are seriously ill who all need blood transfusions. We're doing everything we can to increase blood donations to ensure every patient can receive medical treatments without delay, but we cannot do it without more donors."

According to the Red Cross, it supplies nearly 40 percent of the nation's blood to hospitals; however, blood centers across the country say they have less than a one-day supply of some blood types, as Patch reported Wednesday.

Patch reporter Megan VerHelst contributed to this report.