American Red Cross is scheduling appointment for the following March blood drives in Ada:

Monday, March 21, 2022, 11:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m. at Visiting Nurses & Hospice, 1200 S. Main St.

Thursday, March 24, 2022 10:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m. at Ohio Northern University McIntosh Center, McIntosh Center

To schedule an appointment:

Call 1-800-RED CROSS, or visit www.RedCrossBlood.org, sponsor code: AdaCommunity. Streamline your donation experience and save up to 15 minutes by visiting www.RedCrossBlood.org/RapidPass to complete your pre-donation reading and health history.

For Ada Visiting Nurses, you can also call Call Mary Hackworth at (419) 604-8569.

The American Red Cross has reported the worst blood shortage in over a decade, posing a concerning risk to patient care. Doctors have been forced to make difficult decisions about who receives blood transfusions and who will need to wait until more products become available.

Types of donations

Power Red: A Power Red donation collects the red cells but returns most of the plasma and platelets to the donor. These donors must meet specific eligibility requirements and have type A Neg, B Neg, or O blood.

Blood: The most common type of donation, during which approximately a pint of 'whole blood' is given. This type of blood donation usually takes about an hour.