When disaster strikes, many people want to do whatever they can to help others in need.  One of the easiest ways to do that is by donating blood.

According to the American Red Cross,  someone in the United States needs blood every two seconds.  Just a single blood donation can help save up to three lives.  What's even crazier is that only 38% of the population can give blood or platelets.  Luckily, approximately 6.8 million people in the United States donate blood each year.  The American Red Cross reports that these donations help people of all ages and conditions.  This includes accident and burns victims, heart surgery patients, organ transplant patients, individuals who are battling cancer, and more.

There are about 500 blood drives each day across the United States.  The Dakotas Region of the American Red Cross identifies the various locations of blood drives on its website.  Here's something to keep in mind: A positive, A negative, B positive, O positive, AB positive and AB negative are blood types that the American Red Cross primarily looks for with their donors.

If you would like to donate, find the location closest to you by typing in your zip code.  Some blood drives happening in the next few weeks include TSP on N. West Avenue on January 16th and Hillcrest Church on E. 26th Street on January 17th.  Visit the Dakotas Region website for more information on locations and how to donate.

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