Red Cross Urges Blood Donation Ahead of Liver Awareness Month

October is National Liver Awareness Month and the American Red Cross is reminding eligible blood donors that organ transplant patients often rely on donated blood.

Liver transplants—the second most common transplant in the U.S. behind kidney transplants—may require 30 or more different blood products during surgery. 

According to the American Liver Foundation, more than 6,000 liver transplants are performed each year in the U.S.

All blood types are currently needed, especially O negative, B negative and A negative. Type O negative, the universal blood type, can potentially be transfused to patients with any blood type.

There are a variety of ways to help protect your liver from disease. The American Liver Foundation offers these simple tips:

• Eat a healthy diet low in fatty foods;
• Limit alcohol intake;
• Manage medications appropriately;
• Limit contact with toxins.

Locations throughout Dakota County are hosting blood drives in an effort to meet the growing need of blood products around the state.

Dakota County dates and locations are as follows: 

• Oct. 1, 2:00 pm- 7:00 pm, Wal-Mart, 2200 Highway 13 W, Burnsville
• Oct. 4, 1:00 pm- 7:00 pm, Farmington Fire Department-Station #1, 21625 Denmark Ave, Farmington
• Oct. 4, 1:00 pm- 7:00 pm, St Marks Lutheran Church, 28595 Randolph, Randolph
• Oct. 5, 12:00 pm- 6:00 pm, Hosanna Lutheran Church, 9600 163rd St W, Lakeville
• Oct. 5, 12:00 pm- 6:00 pm, St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, 2035 West 15th Street, Hastings
• Oct. 8, 1:00 pm- 7:00 pm, St. Mary's Church, 8433 239th St. E., Hampton
• Oct. 9, 1:00 pm- 6:00 pm, United Methodist Church, 14770 Canada Ave., Rosemount
• Oct. 9, 2:30 pm- 7:30 pm, Crossroads Church, 17671 Glacier Way, Lakeville
• Oct. 11, 1:00 pm- 5:00 pm, Inver Hills Community College, 2500 E 80th St, Inver GroveHeights
• Oct. 11, 1:00 pm- 6:00 pm, Mt Olivet Assembly of God Church, 14201 Cedar Avenue South,Apple Valley
• Oct. 11, 2:00 pm- 7:00 pm, Church of St Patrick, 3535 72nd St E, Inver Grove Heights
• Oct. 11, 9:00 am- 1:00 pm, Inver Hills Community College, 2500 E 80th St, Inver Grove Heights
• Oct. 12, 10:00 am- 3:00 pm, Church of the Risen Savior, 1501 E. County Road 42, Burnsville
• Oct. 12, 12:30 pm- 5:30 pm, Easter Lutheran Church, 4545 Pilot Knob Road, Eagan
• Oct. 13, 10:15 am- 3:15 pm, Burnhaven Library, 1101 W Co Rd #42, Burnsville
• Oct. 15, 1:00 pm- 6:00 pm, Brunswick Zone XL, 11129 162nd Street West, Lakeville