Cape Cod Hospitals In Need Of Blood Donations

HYANNIS, MA — Are you looking for a way to help others and make a difference in the community? Cape Cod Healthcare could use residents' help replenishing its blood supply.

Cape Cod and Falmouth hospitals need at least one week's worth of blood on hand at all times, since each unit collected or purchased only lasts 42 days. All blood types are welcome, but specifically, the hospitals need donations from people with O negative blood and O positive blood.

Hospital officials say O positive blood is the most common blood type and is given to patients more than any other type. Those with O negative blood are considered universal donors, since the blood can be transfused to any patient in need, regardless of their blood type. This puts O negative donors in the unique position to help people who are in critical need of blood.

All blood collected at Cape Cod Healthcare blood drives stays on Cape Cod.

If you'd like to help replenish the supply, you can consider taking part in one of the following blood drives:

• June 17: 10 a.m. – 4 p.m., Orleans Police Department, 99 Eldredge Park Way, Orleans
• June 21: 11 a.m. – 5 p.m., Christ the King Church, 3 Jobs Fishing Rd, Mashpee
• June 22: 10 a.m. – 4 p.m., Clark-Haddad American Legion Post 188, 20 Main Street, Sandwich
• June 23: 9 a.m. – 3 p.m., Dennis Police @ Church of the Nazarene, 209 Upper County Rd, Dennis
• June 24: 10 a.m. – 4 p.m., Brewster Police, 631 Harwich Rd, Brewster

• June 28: 10 a.m. – 4 p.m., Falmouth Community @ Gus Canty Center, 790 Main Street, Falmouth
• June 30: 10 a.m. – 4 p.m., Orleans/Eastham Elks Lodge, 10 McKoy Rd
• July 1: 9 a.m. – 3 p.m., Cotuit Federated Church, 40 School St., Cotuit

• July 6: 11 a.m. – 5 p.m., Clark-Haddad American Legion Post 188, 20 Main Street, Sandwich

• July 12: 11 a.m. – 5 p.m., Harwich Police, 183 Sisson Rd, Harwich

• July 13: 12 noon – 6 p.m., Chatham Works, 323 Orleans Rd., N. Chatham

• July 14: 10 a.m. – 4 p.m., Northside United Methodist Church, 701 Airline Rd, Brewster
• July 15: 9 a.m. – 3 p.m., Cape Cod YMCA, 2245 Iyannough Rd, W. Barnstable

Appointments are required at all blood drives. To make an appointment at an upcoming blood drive, please visit www.capecodhealth.org/give-blood

Donations can also be made at the Nicholas G. Xiarhos Blood Donor Center at Cape Cod Hospital. The Donor Center is open 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. To make an appointment for the Nicholas G. Xiarhos Blood Donor Center please call us at 508-862-5663.