The American Red Cross is declaring an emergency blood shortage as the blood supply fell nearly 25% in June.

Blood donors are urgently needed to give now to help ensure patients receive lifesaving medical care without delay. The shortage is especially serious for platelets and types O positive and B negative blood.

A steep decline in blood donations since the end of May has created a growing gap between supply and patient need.

Currently, Red Cross distributions to hospitals are nearly 3,500 units higher per week than expected at a time when hospitals often see higher demand for blood products during the height of trauma season.

On top of that, busy schedules and the seasonal loss of school blood drives are driving the decline which could put patient care at risk if not reversed.

The most important way to help end the blood shortage is to book an appointment to give blood by visiting RedCrossBlood.org or calling 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767).

“A readily available blood supply serves as the backbone of modern medicine. Without it, lifesaving treatments and critical access points to care are not possible,” said Dr. Courtney Lawrence, medical director for the Red Cross. “Emergency departments, operating rooms, and labor and delivery units can’t support patients with the most urgent needs, and cancer patients must wait. We’re asking donors to give now before doctors are forced to make those difficult decisions.”

To help make donating easier, the Red Cross has the following blood drives around the Times News coverage area.

CARBON COUNTY

July 13, 1:30-6 p.m.: Citizens Fire Company, 107 Spring St., Weatherly.

July 27, noon-4:30 p.m.: Jim Thorpe Market, 1 River Road, Jim Thorpe.

LEHIGH COUNTY

July 14, 1:30-6 p.m.: VFW Post 7293, 5209 Springmill Road, Cementon.

July 15, 10 a.m.-2:30 p.m.: T-Mobile Allentown, 1605 N. Cedar Crest Blvd., Allentown.

July 31, 11 a.m.-4 p.m.: Lehigh Valley Hospital-Cedar Crest — Kasych Building, 1200 S. Cedar Crest Blvd., Allentown.

MONROE COUNTY

July 14, 1-6 p.m.: Berean Bible Fellowship, 1028 Tara View, Stroudsburg.

July 14, 1-6 p.m.: Our Lady Queen of Peace, 1402 Route 209, Gilbert.

July 15, 1-6 p.m.: Faith Lutheran Church, 550 Route 940, Pocono Lake.

July 18, 9:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m.: Eastern Monroe Public Library, 1002 N. Ninth St., Stroudsburg.

July 22, noon-5 p.m.: Mount Airy Casino Resort, 312 Woodland Road, Mount Pocono.

July 23, 11 a.m.-4 p.m.: Kalahari Resort Convention Center, 250 Kalahari Blvd., Pocono Manor.

July 23, noon-5 p.m.: East Stroudsburg United Methodist Church, 83 S. Courtland St., East Stroudsburg.

July 24, 11 a.m.-3:30 p.m.: Skytop Lodge, 1 Skytop, Skytop.

July 25, 9 a.m.-2 p.m.: Lehigh Valley Hospital-Pocono Cancer Center, 181 E. Brown St., East Stroudsburg.

July 30, 10:30 a.m.-3 p.m.: Baymont Inn and Suites, 116 Turtlewalk Lane, Bartonsville.

July 31, noon-5 p.m.: Monroe County Meals on Wheels, 901 Polk Valley Road, Stroudsburg.

July 31, noon-5 p.m.: VFW Post 3448, 119 VFW Drive, Tobyhanna.

NORTHAMPTON COUNTY

July 17, noon-4 p.m.: Nazareth YMCA, 33 S. Main St., Nazareth.

July 29, 11 a.m.-4 p.m.: Forks Township Community Center, 500 Zucksville Road, Easton.

July 29, noon-4:30 p.m.: The Center Lehigh Valley, 529 E. Broad St., Bethlehem.

SCHUYLKILL COUNTY

July 16, 1-6 p.m.: Jerusalem Lutheran Church, 252 Dock St., Schuylkill Haven.

July 28, 1-6 p.m.: St. Andrews United Methodist Church, 1382 W. Main St., Valley View.

July 30, noon-5 p.m.: Friedensburg Fire Company, 1357 Long Run Road, Friedensburg.

July 30, 1-6 p.m.: Trinity Lutheran Church, 300 W. Arch St., Pottsville,

July 31, 10 a.m.-3 p.m.: Fairlane Village Mall, 7211 Fairlane Village Mall, Pottsville.