WAND Blood Drive collects 36 units of blood

DECATUR, Ill. (WAND)- WAND News partnered with the American Red Cross for a blood drive on Tuesday.

According to the Red Cross 36 units of blood was collected during Tuesday's drive, that will be used to provide lifesaving treatment to many patients in need.

The Red Cross adds while these results are good to see, it's also important to encourage donors to make blood donation a part of their regular schedule and continue to give when they are able!

The American Red Cross has declared an emergency blood shortage. Blood donations have dropped 25 percent since July 1, according to the Red Cross. Blood donations were short 17,000 units across the U.S. last month.

Hospitals across the U.S. are getting lower supplies of Type O blood than needed, due to the shortage.

Blood donations help patients of all ages, according to the Red Cross. Accident and burn victims, cancer patients, heart surgery and organ transplant patients may all need blood donations to survive. Approximately 29,000 units of red blood cells are needed every day in the U.S.