Blood drives scheduled across the North Country Oct. 19-24

Blood drives are scheduled at locations across the North Country from Monday, Oct. 19, through Saturday, Oct. 24. The American Red Cross is encouraging people to make appointments through 1-800-RED-CROSS, RedCrossBlood.org or the Blood Donor App.

The schedule includes Watertown High School, 1335 Washington St., Watertown, from 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Monday, Oct. 19, and American Legion Post 358, 3350 Maple Ave., Pulaski, from noon to 6 p.m. that day.

A drive is planned Tuesday, Oct. 20, from 11:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. at the Croghan Fire Department, 6860 Fire Hall Street, Croghan. On Wednesday, Oct. 21, drives are scheduled from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at General Brown High School, 17643 Cemetery Road, Dexter, and from 2 to 6 p.m. at Massena Moose Lodge No. 1110, 4 Ames St., Massena.

The Children's Home of Jefferson County, 1704 State St., Watertown, will host a drive Thursday, Oct. 22, from noon to 5 p.m. Friday's drives are scheduled from 10:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at Lyme Central School, 11868 Academy St., Chaumont, and from 1 to 5 p.m. at the Belleville Fire Department, 7981 State Route 289, Belleville. Pickens Hall & General Store, 83 State St., Heuvelton, will host a drive Saturday, Oct. 24, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

The Red Cross declared a national blood supply crisis July 27, saying donations had reached a four-year summer low. The organization said it was limiting distributions of type O blood to hospitals. It described the declaration as its second national blood supply crisis.

The Red Cross also declared a severe shortage Jan. 20 after supplies fell about 35% in one month, followed by an emergency shortage July 13 after supplies fell about 25% during June. On Aug. 11, the organization called the shortage its worst since January 2022.

The drives are being held at schools, fire departments, a legion post and other community locations in Jefferson, Lewis and St. Lawrence county communities. People can use the Red Cross booking channels to check eligibility, select a drive and find updates. The Red Cross eligibility information is available through its blood donation website.